Men's Rowing
- Title:
- Men's Rowing Head Coach
- Email:
- mjw473@drexel.edu
Matt Weaver is entering his third year as the men's rowing head coach for Drexel University after joining the Dragons in September 2023.
Last season, Drexel captured the men’s title at the Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta for the fourth consecutive year. Alongside the women’s program, the Dragons took home the overall points title in back-to-back seasons. The varsity 4+ team qualified for the Second Final at the IRA National Championships as Andrew Manns was named to the IRA National Championships.
Weaver was selected to coach the United States Senior Men’s Lightweight 4x team at the 2024 Under 23 World Rowing Championships in St. Catharines, Canada. The team collected the gold medal, setting a new American record in the event at 5:47.74. Additionally, three members of the men’s rowing team represented the United States at the Championships, as Josh Diggons won gold in the Men’s Coxed Four (BM4+). James Schmidt was a part of the Men’s Quadruple Scull (BM4x) that set a new U.S. record, giving the team their best finish since 2011.
During his first year as head coach, Weaver led the Dragons to their third consecutive Dad Vail Varsity 8+ Championship, as well as the Men’s Team Championship. At the IRA National Championship in 2024, he also helped the Dragons secure their best ever team finish as the 15th place team. Throughout the regular season, the team also secured the Philadelphia City Championships at the Bergen Cup Regatta. Under Weaver’s guidance, Josh Diggons was named an IRCA Second Team All-American, as Damian Lis earned Honorable Mention status.
Prior to joining Dragons, Weaver was an assistant coach at national powerhouse University of Washington, and Philadelphia rival, Temple University. At Washington, he was a part of the coaching staff that guided the Huskies to a sweep of the 2021 IRA National Championship, and a third-place finish in 2022. He also helped UW to a championship in the 2022 Royal Henley Regatta Visitors Challenge Cup. With the Temple Owls, he assisted the Varsity 8+ to a bronze medal at the American Athletic Conference Championships, the first medal for the V8+ at the event since 2016. He was also responsible for the creation and implementation of a year-round training program for the team.
Internationally, four members of the Dragons qualified for the 2025 U23 World Rowing Championships, the most in a single year in program history. He also coached the Men's Double team, manned by Matthew Kennedy and Ryan Miller. Weaver was the Senior Lightweight national team coach for the USA in 2024, leading the Lightweight 4x to a Silver medal and an American record at the World Championships. In 2021, he was the U23 national team coach for Canada in 2021, co-leading the men's U23 4- to a World Championship and the U23 1x to a 14th place finish. Weaver also has coaching experience at La Salle, Winchester College and at Crescent Boat Club.
He earned his bachelor's in criminology from Penn in 2016 and a master's in education from La Salle in 2019.
