Wayne Berger Named Assistant Coach at Lehigh

By Katie Lane

Wayne Berger, a seasoned coach and educator, has joined the women’s rowing staff at Lehigh University.

“I am truly excited and deeply honored to have the chance to work with Coach Costas and the outstanding team of athletes and coaches at Lehigh University,” Berger said.

Berger met Peter Costas, the Steven J. ’69 & Karen A. Lee Head Rowing Coach, in 2015 at the Institute for Rowing Leadership in Boston. At the time, Berger was an instructor with the fellowship and Costas was one of the seven fellows. The Institute for Rowing Leadership is a 10-month graduate-level fellowship program that provides broad rowing knowledge and substantial experiential learning.

Throughout his career, Berger has worked with highly competitive rowing teams at such places as Harvard University, Deerfield Academy, The Groton School, Boston Rowing Club, The Hotchkiss School, and The Loomis Chaffee School

Internationally, he coached the United States Junior National Team in 2012 and 2013 and served as the lead coach for Sydney Rowing Club. Notable results include three IRA national championships, five Eastern Sprints championships, two Ladies Plate titles from Henley Royal Regatta, two New England Interscholastic Rowing Association championships, the Royal Canadian Henley Overall Points Trophy, two top-10 finishes at the World Rowing championships, and a silver medal at the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

“Lehigh University has given me a vibrant community of committed adults and driven student-athletes who value the balance of academics and athletics—understanding that rowing is not only about building fast boats but also about enriching lives through education,” Berger said. “The sport of rowing teaches invaluable lessons in resilience, teamwork, and leadership, often through high-stakes, real-world scenarios that are hard to recreate elsewhere on campus.”

Berger began his rowing career as an undergrad at Cornell University. He has spent the last 35 years serving the rowing community as both educator and coach, teaching student-athletes how to row through a process-focused approach centered on consistency, persistence, hard work, and community.

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