Coach Kevin Harris on the Importance of embracing diversity

This episode was made possible in part by RowSource, Barb, EB5 Investors, and our Patrons.

This is part three in a special series on gender identity policies in rowing.

Since December 2022, World Athletics, World Rowing, USRowing and other national governing bodies, have announced updated gender identity policies. In response, voices across the rowing community have stood up for "fairness for women" and alternatively "inclusion for marginalized athletes." We're taking a closer look.

Kevin Harris’s coaching career began in the early 1990s at T.C. Williams High School and culminated with 20+ years at the helm of the University of Tulsa women’s rowing program. Harris offers an in-depth and thought-provoking perspective on DEI, the importance of boathouses as welcoming spaces, the prevalence of transgender and non-binary rowers in the United States, and gender inclusion policies.

ICYMI: Gender Identity Policy Series
Part 1 - Dr. Mary O’Connor: Fighting to Save Women’s Rowing
Part 2 - Coach Anne Strayer on Inclusion and Self-Worth in Rowing

QUICK LOOK

00:50 - Pre-interview banter with Tara and Rachel
04:30 - The Huddle, a discussion of Kevin’s early coaching career in D.C. and Virginia
05:30 - Hot Seat Q&A
08:20 - Starting out as a coach, Stonewall Regatta
10:35 - Experience at 2023 Youth Nationals with the USRowing Board of Directors, perspective on FL controversy as a Black man who grew up in the South
19:00 - Welcome mat at T.C. Williams High School when he learned to row
21:30 - The Harris family history in Alexandria, VA and why Kevin’s mom asked him why he wanted to get into a “white boy’s sport”
29:20 - The reality of lightweight rowing at the Naval Academy, and coach bumping him to the cox seat
31:50 - An unexpected early departure from the Naval Academy led to his first coaching job at T.C. Williams High School
33:50 - Coach Dee Campbell’s influence on Kevin, and the boathouse named for him
36:10 - The development of USRowing’s DEI committee in 2020
45:00 - Intro to Gender inclusion policies and the ICONS petition
47:10 - Kevin’s inroads to coaching women’s programs 
50:02 - Title IX, gender policies, the ICONS petition, and DEI from Kevin’s unique perspective as an NCAA coach and member of the USRowing Board
1:00:00 - USRowing’s work to accommodate a huge variety of members


For a firsthand account of the experience of transgender scholastic and collegiate rowers, listen to our 2020 conversation with Cillian Mullen and Liam Miranda.


EPISODE Mentions


This episode was written, produced, hosted, and edited by Tara Morgan and Rachel Freedman. Tara provides additional audio engineering and is our sponsor coordinator. Rachel manages the website, social media, and e-newsletter. Our theme music is by Jonas Hipper.


Previous
Previous

Indianapolis Rowing Center: From LTR to National Championships

Next
Next

Midwest Pride: Chicago Rowing Union’s Michael Toutloff