Player Bio: Craig Amerkhanian :: Crew
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Craig Amerkhanian begins his fifth season as the Head Men's crew coach and Director of Rowing. In Amerkhanian's first four seasons, the Varsity 8+ achieved 12th, 13th, 14th and 17th national finishes. Amerkhanian previously served as freshmen coach and associate head coach at Cal Berkeley. During his time at Cal, the freshmen 8+ won the Pac 10 Conference Championship in 1994, 95, 96, 98, 99, and 2000. The frosh entered the IRA National Championship Regatta five times, garnering gold in 1998 and 2000 and silver in 1996 and 1999. Coach Amerkhanian remarks on his Stanford Experience: "To coach rowing is truly a blessing. These student athletes bring their best daily. The majority of our team are volunteers (walk-ons). There is great satisfaction in coaching rowing to novices."
He has had the honor of coaching four 2000 Olympians, six 2004 Olympians, nine Nation's Cup oarsmen and many committed athletes. Each team member contributed to Amerkhanian's coaching style and method.
As an athlete, Amerkhanian began rowing at Orange Coast College where he also played tight end on the football team. At OCC he rowed in the Head of the Charles and the Henley Royal Regatta (Orange Coast reached the semis of the Ladies Plate). Recruited by Cal, Amerkhanian majored in History while rowing for Steve Gladstone. In 1979 Cal won the Pac 10 Championship, ending a 15 year drought. The postseason again ended in the Henley semifinals (Grand Challenge Cup). After an undefeated dual racing season in 1980, Amerkhananian was named to the All Conference team.
A 1980 California graduate (B.A. History, M.A. Education), Amerkhanian is the proud father of three boys, John 14, Peter 11, and Nicolas 6. He and his wife Michelle Sinclair reside in Albany. He is dedicating 2005 to his father, Ruben Amerkhanian, a coach for 35 years who away this Fall.