Yaz Farooq on Leadership and Legacy
Fall semester at the University of Wisconsin, 1984. The United States just weeks before had won the first-ever W8+ Olympic gold medal. A 5’4” freshman named Yasmin Farooq walks on to the Wisco crew as a coxswain and wonders “Can I win an Olympic medal, too?”
More than 40 years later, this Olympic captain, world champion, and Hall of Fame coach continues to shape generations of rowers. Her influence is evident not only in championship trophies and Olympic medals, but in the athletes she has developed and the enduring excellence of the Washington women's rowing program, which she has helmed since 2017.
Yaz gets into it with us about the importance of skill development, tradition, student-athlete success, and the post-practice huddle.
GUEST
Yaz Farooq | Head Coach, women's program, University of Washington
IG: @Yaz_farooq
FB: /yasmin.farooq
This episode was made possible in part by RowSource and our Supporters.
QUICK LOOK
00:00 - Introduction
4:15 - Welcome & The Huddle
5:12 - Side bar on a coaches life and Yaz's support staff
06:51 - Walk-on culture at University of Washington
08:01 - Hot Seat Q&A
11:46 - Walking on at Wisco within weeks of the US W8+ winning gold at the 1984 LA Olympics
13:21 - Coxing 101, moving beyond F-bombs, and asking “where is speed”?
18:02 - The coxswain’s role outside of the boat
20:00 - UW’s investment in coaching coxswains
22:24 - The life of student athletes: great performances coincide with good grades
24:02 - Building a collegiate program; adding to the legacy
26:50 - UW legacy and tradition: “throwing dubs,” Class Day, Cut paintings
30:40 - The importance (and dilemma) of the post-practice huddle
35:52 - Giving back: it’s about the next generation and accessibility for everyone
39:48 - Steady State Network news and notes: Coffee Chat, HOCR, Allies with Oars
Yaz Farooq coxed the U.S. W8+ to its first World Championship gold in 1995. To this day, she says that was her favorite race to cox.
Episode Mentions
🎧 = Listen to a Steady State Podcast episode
ATHLETIC CONFERENCES
Big10 Conference
CAMPS & CLINICS
GPRF Camp Lucille
GPRF Camp Lucy
CLUBS & TEAMS
Ancient Mariners Rowing Club
Community Rowing, Inc. 🎧
Oregon Association of Rowers
COACHES
Bob Ernst
Eleanor McElvain
Tom Terhaar
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