Men's Crew
- Title:
- Men's Crew Head Coaching Chair
- Email:
- paul_cooke@brown.edu
- Phone:
- 401-863-1097
A 1989 Brown graduate, Paul Cooke enters his 25th season as the Men’s Crew Head Coaching Chair and his 32nd season on the Brown staff in 2025-26.
Brown's Varsity 8 finished fifth in the Grand Final at the 2025 Eastern Sprints and picked up victories during the season against Boston University and Northeastern. The Bears won the Albert Cup against Yale for the first time since 2013 and the Stein Cup against Harvard for the first time since 2018. At the 2025 IRA Championship, Brown's V8 finished fifth in the Grand Final and the team placed fourth in the Ten Eyck Trophy standings.
Cooke led the Varsity 8 to their first gold since 2012, and eighth victory in program history at the 2024 Eastern Sprints. The first-place finish earned the Bears First Team All-Ivy honors, as well as the Ivy League Championship. Following Brown's success at the Eastern Sprints, Cooke was unanimously selected as Ivy League Coach of the Year. The team closed out the season at number two in the IRCA/IRA Varsity 8 Poll.
The 2022 Ivy League and EARC Heavyweight Coach of the Year, Cooke guided the Varsity 8 to bronze at the 2022 IRA Championships with the team finishing fourth in the Ten Eyck standings. The 2022 Bears finished second at the 75th Eastern Sprints with all three eights taking silver and the 4V winning bronze.
From 2015-20, Cooke and the Bears continued their run of top-10 finishes at the IRAs, finishing sixth in the Ten Eyck standings in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The Varsity 8 qualified for the grand final in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 to push the boat’s streak to 10 straight grand final appearances.
The Bears captured four medals at the IRAs in both the 2013 and 2014 campaigns – taking third in the Ten Eyck standings in both Championships. Both crews took runner-up finishes at the Eastern Sprints.
In 2012, Cooke led his team to the Ivy Championship title before claiming top honors at the Eastern Sprints. From there, the Bears went on to row to a second-place finish at the IRAs. Brown capped off the season with an appearance at the Henley Royal Regatta in July, qualifying for two finals at the prestigious competition and claiming runner-up honors in both the Grand and Temple Challenge Cups.
Cooke was named the 2012 Fan's Choice Collegiate Coach of the Year, an honor decided upon by the rowing community, as well as the 2012 EARC Coach of the Year.
In 2011, Brown varsity finished fourth at the Eastern Sprints and fifth at the IRAs. In 2010, the varsity eight had an undefeated dual race season while finishing third at the Eastern Sprints and fifth at the IRAs.
The Bears swept the heavyweight events at the 2009 Eastern Sprints to win the Rowe Cup for the first time since 2000 and sixth time in program history. The Bears then finished third in the Ten Eyck standings at the IRAs, the highest finish by an Eastern school. Brown wrapped up the terrific 2009 season at the Henley Royal Regatta, where the Varsity 8 won the prestigious Ladies Plate Challenge Cup.
The Bears finished third at the prestigious Head of the Charles during the fall season to open the 2007-08 campaign. The team carried that momentum through a terrific spring season, going undefeated and capturing an Ivy Championship. Brown then tested itself against the best in the country at the IRAs, emerging as a top-five squad.
Brown crew re-established itself as one of the top teams in the country in 2006, beginning the year with a thrilling victory over Harvard, the defending national champions. At the 2006 Eastern Sprints, the varsity eight raced to third. The crew capped off an exciting season with a bronze medal in the varsity eight at the IRAs.
From 2002-05, Cooke’s first four years at the helm, Brown men’s crew laid the foundation for the program’s current run of success.
Student-athletes excel in the classroom under Cooke with the program consistently placing double-digit athletes on the IRA All-Academic team.
While guiding the freshmen at Brown, Cooke compiled a 28-5 record in dual races, including an undefeated dual season in 2000. The Bears won medals five medals at the Eastern Sprints in six seasons, including the Championship title in 1995. In 1999, Cooke's freshmen crew won the IRA title, setting the course record at 5 minutes 34 seconds.
Prior to coaching at Brown, Cooke spent time with the Green Lake boys’ crew in Seattle, Washington before spending three seasons as the freshmen coach at Cornell (1992-94).
Cooke has coached internationally with the United States and guided the United States U23 team at the 1997 U23 World Championship in Milan, Italy; the 1999 U23 World Championship in Hamburg, Germany; and the 2013 U23 World Championship in Linz, Austria.
A varsity oarsman at Brown, Cooke won IRA Nationals Championships with the freshmen and junior varsity eight, a silver medal at the IRA with the varsity eight and a bronze medal in the varsity eight at the National Collegiate Rowing Championship.
A native of Ithaca, New York, Cooke resides in Barrington, Rhode Island with his wife, Laura, and their children, Noelle ‘21, Andrew ‘22 and Declan. Laura is currently Brown's Football Operations Coordinator. Noelle rowed at Brown from 2017-21, while Andrew rowed at Brown from 2018-22. Declan is a member of the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse team.
