Mary Whipple Murray - Women's Rowing Coach - University of Washington Athletics

Mary Whipple Murray

Title:
Volunteer Assistant Coach

Mary Whipple Murray is a member of both the Husky Hall of Fame and the National Rowing Hall of Fame after having compiled one of the most successful careers of any coxswain in history.

A three-time Olympic medalist (two golds and one silver in the women's eight), Murray coxed the Huskies' varsity eight to NCAA championships in both 2001 and 2002, after having the varsity four to the title in 1999.

Following her UW career, she earned the job as the United States' primary coxswain, leading the eight in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games. After winning silver in 2004, she brought home gold medals from Beijing and London. Murray was also the coxswain for U.S. eights that won five gold medals at World Championships, in 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011.

A Sacramento, Calif., native, Murray (under maiden name Mary Whipple) was a four-time letter winner for the Washington women's rowing program from 1999-02. While at the UW, Whipple received many honors that included All-Pac-10 in 2002, first-team All-Academic All-Pac-10 in 2001, and CRCA first-team All-American from 2000-02.

Whipple was part of a Washington team that saw great success in the late 1990's and early 2000's. During her tenure, she won an NCAA championship as a coxswain for the UW varsity 8+ in 2001 and 2002 and with the varsity 4+ in 1999.

She coxed the UW crew that won the first-ever Henley Prize (women's open eight: now known as the Remenham Challenge Cup) at the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta in 2000.

She was inducted inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame as a member of the 2008 U.S. crew in 2014 and to the Husky Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2017, she was named the Pac-12's All-Century Team for women's rowing, one of just three coxswains to make the squad.

Since retiring from competition, Murray continues to give coxswain clinics around the country with her company, The 9th Seat. She also has summer camps that run out of the Conibear Shellhouse. In addition to helping the UW coaching staff, she also volunteers as a commentator for the Washington Rowing races.