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Photo by: Brown Athletics
Men's Crew Adds Michael Colella to Coaching Staff
8/6/2026 10:45:00 AM | Men's Crew
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Brown men's crew welcomes Michael Colella to its coaching staff for the 2026-27 season. He will serve as an assistant coach on Men's Crew Norman W. Alpert '80 Head Coaching Chair Paul Cooke's '89 staff.
Colella, who received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell in 2016, also rowed for the Big Red on their heavyweight team. Named a captain for the 2016 season by his peers, Michael led holistic programming for the Big Red, including freshmen mentoring, a mental health series focused on developing healthy coping mechanisms, and co-facilitated the first Athlete Mental Health Forum for Cornell University.
After graduation, Colella trained at the US Training Center in pursuit of representing Team USA. His efforts were rewarded by becoming a three-time US National Team member, competing in the men's four race at the 2016 U23 Rowing Championships and the men's pair in 2017 and 2018.Â
Colella has spent the last several years coaching for NCAA DI crew programs, starting as an assistant coach for the men's rowing team at Northeastern University from September 2023 to June 2024. While at Northeastern, Michael coached the Third and Fourth Varsity Eights with active roles in pre- and post-row meetings, selection, lineups, training plan adjustments, peach system installation and analysis, and rigging customizations. He also oversaw operations, including daily charter bus to practice, hotels for regattas, and food for regattas. In addition, he served in a supporting role for US recruiting for the incoming classes of 2024 and 2025.Â
After his tenure at Northeastern, Colella became an assistant coach for the men's rowing team at Boston University from August 2024 to June 2026. Michael coached all athletes throughout the year, with a specific responsibility of managing practices and leading race meetings for the 3V, 4V, and 5V crews during the spring racing season. He assisted with the development of the team training plan, selection procedures, and team-wide culture initiatives that transformed athlete satisfaction and led to a 90% 2k PR rate during Winter 2026.
Supported domestic and international recruiting efforts, with a specific focus on athletes from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Colella managed logistics and the budget in booking transportation and accommodations for recruits and team travel, while also reigniting the partnership with the Student Athlete Academic Success team to drive accountability in the classroom, resulting in a program-record team GPA in Spring 2026.
Colella also oversaw the coxswain development program for the Terriers, focusing primarily on coxswain decision-making, how to empower rowers to develop over time, video review, and competing through team values.Â
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.Â
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
Colella, who received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell in 2016, also rowed for the Big Red on their heavyweight team. Named a captain for the 2016 season by his peers, Michael led holistic programming for the Big Red, including freshmen mentoring, a mental health series focused on developing healthy coping mechanisms, and co-facilitated the first Athlete Mental Health Forum for Cornell University.
After graduation, Colella trained at the US Training Center in pursuit of representing Team USA. His efforts were rewarded by becoming a three-time US National Team member, competing in the men's four race at the 2016 U23 Rowing Championships and the men's pair in 2017 and 2018.Â
Colella has spent the last several years coaching for NCAA DI crew programs, starting as an assistant coach for the men's rowing team at Northeastern University from September 2023 to June 2024. While at Northeastern, Michael coached the Third and Fourth Varsity Eights with active roles in pre- and post-row meetings, selection, lineups, training plan adjustments, peach system installation and analysis, and rigging customizations. He also oversaw operations, including daily charter bus to practice, hotels for regattas, and food for regattas. In addition, he served in a supporting role for US recruiting for the incoming classes of 2024 and 2025.Â
After his tenure at Northeastern, Colella became an assistant coach for the men's rowing team at Boston University from August 2024 to June 2026. Michael coached all athletes throughout the year, with a specific responsibility of managing practices and leading race meetings for the 3V, 4V, and 5V crews during the spring racing season. He assisted with the development of the team training plan, selection procedures, and team-wide culture initiatives that transformed athlete satisfaction and led to a 90% 2k PR rate during Winter 2026.
Supported domestic and international recruiting efforts, with a specific focus on athletes from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Colella managed logistics and the budget in booking transportation and accommodations for recruits and team travel, while also reigniting the partnership with the Student Athlete Academic Success team to drive accountability in the classroom, resulting in a program-record team GPA in Spring 2026.
Colella also oversaw the coxswain development program for the Terriers, focusing primarily on coxswain decision-making, how to empower rowers to develop over time, video review, and competing through team values.Â
BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Brown University Sports Foundation (BUSF) is the lifeblood of the athletics program, and exists to enhance the student-athlete experience through philanthropic support from alumni, parents, fans and friends. A gift through the Sports Foundation makes an immediate impact on today's Brown Bears and helps them to be their best in the classroom, in competition and most importantly in the community. To learn more about supporting the Bears, please click here.Â
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
For the latest on Brown Athletics, please follow @BrownU_Bears on X, @BrownU_Bears on Instagram, like BrownUBears on Facebook and subscribe to the BrownAthletics YouTube channel.
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