One of the most successful and highly respected coaches in the country, Sara Lowe begins her sixth season as the head coach at Stanford in 2018.
In 2017, Lowe led the Cardinal to a second-place showing at the U.S. National Collegiate Championships in Columbus, Ohio, finishing a close second to the host Buckeyes. Ohio State scored 100 points, followed by Stanford with 88.
It marked the fifth consecutive season the Cardinal has finished third or higher.
Clare McGovern, Sandra Ortellado and Erica Slavin repeated as national champions in trio, while McGovern garnered runner up honors in solo for the second straight year. Ortellado and Slavin placed second in duet, and Stanford claimed second in the team free.
Regular-season highlights included a home weekend sweep of Lindenwood and Ohio State, and a dominating performance at the Western Regionals in Oro Valley, Arizona.
Isabella Park, Marsia Tashima, McGovern, Ortellado, Slavin and Rachel Hyon were named All-Americans. Since taking over as head coach, Lowe has produced 28 overall.
In 2016, she guided the program to its eighth U.S. Collegiate National Championship in Gainesville, Fla. Utilizing depth, teamwork and a strong work ethic, the Cardinal tallied 98.0 points to beat defending champion Ohio State (92.0) and the University of Incarnate Word (75.0).
Stanford previously won national titles in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. The win marked the 130th national championship for Stanford Athletics.
Lowe was selected the USA Synchro Coach of the Year for the second time, also earning the honor in 2013.
During the past three seasons, she has guided the Cardinal to first-place finishes at the Western Regional Championships and two third-place overall finishes at the U.S. Collegiate National Championships. Stanford Synchro has produced 15 collegiate All-Americans during that span.
Lowe assumed head coaching duties in 2013, immediately leading the program to the U.S. Collegiate National Championship title. The Cardinal swept the team, duet and trio finals en route to the crown. In September, she was inducted into the United States Synchronized Swimming Hall of Fame as a student-athlete.
Lowe served as a volunteer assistant coach at Stanford in 2009 following her graduation from The Farm in 2008. The Cardinal finished second in 2010 and 2011, and fourth in 2012.
Lowe took over assistant coach responsibilities in 2009 when head coach Heather Olson took maternity leave. Lowe also served as the team manager for the U.S. National Team at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. that summer.
Lowe has been heavily involved as a coach at different levels of USA Synchro. During the summer of 2014, she led the USA Synchro 12 and Under National Team to a first-place overall finish at the UANA Pan American Championships in Riverside, Calif.
In 2013, Lowe coached the United States at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia. The squad included eight Stanford swimmers.
During the summer of 2011, Lowe served as head coach of the USA Synchro Junior National Team. The team trained in Northern California and competed at the UANA Pan American Championships in Montreal, Canada, securing second-place showings in the team, duet and solo competitions.
In the summer of 2010, she assisted the 11-12 USA Synchro National Team. The squad competed at the UANA Pan American Championships in Lima, Peru, and earned three gold medals.
Lowe was a United States synchronized swimming All-American from 2000 through 2005. She was as a four-time member of the USA Synchro National Team and three-time member of the USA Synchro Junior National Team. Lowe was also a member of the 2003 Pan American Team, winning a gold medal, and the 2004 Olympic Team, capturing a bronze medal.
Lowe began her collegiate athletic career at Stanford in the fall of 2004. She was a four-time All-American and a member of Cardinal teams that won four consecutive U.S. Collegiate National Championships. Lowe earned Collegiate High Point Athlete each of her four years on The Farm. She won a gold medal in every event she entered and served as captain during her sophomore, junior and senior years.
As a sophomore, Lowe received the Stanford Athletics Board "Block S" Outstanding Female Award. As a senior, she received the Stanford Athletics Board Award as the Female Athlete of the Year.
Lowe was nominated for the USOC Sports Woman of the Year as a junior in 2007 and senior in 2008, and was twice named USA Synchronized Swimming Athlete of the Year.
Lowe graduated from Stanford with a degree in communication in 2008 and was appointed a Matteson Fellow. She served as the AAC Athlete Representative on the USOC Athlete Advisory Council and as a member of the Board of Directors for United States Synchronized Swimming, Inc. from 2009 to 2012. In addition, Lowe served as the acting Executive Director for the DAPER Investment Fund from 2008 through 2012.
Lowe works with the Junior Olympic program and is involved in the World Fit Program. She also belongs to the Northern California Olympians.
In the spring of 2017, Lowe completed her master's degree in business administration at St. Mary's College..