Head Coach John Turner started at SHU the fall of 2001, with the goal of building a young rowing program into a competitive Division I program. Under Turner's guidance the program has quadrupled the roster, cut attrition and added regattas to the schedule. Most importantly, with his coaching the team has improved its race performances steadily to the point of bringing home medals. Turner has also helped the team by upgrading its equipment through proper maintenance and some elbow grease. In his first year, he acquired a boat trailer for the team and renovated it; repaired the racing oars and painted the blades with school colors and new design; acquired a four+ (four-oared shell) and 20 additional oars through fund-raising; designed and built a large sign for the boathouse; had a banner made for display at races and numerous smaller signs for the boathouse and trailer. After hiring an Assistant Coach his second year, the two instituted masters rowing at SHU, which has raised funds for two more boats. The Pioneers now have three eights, two fours and a pair. Coach Turner has built or renovated boathouse furniture, a dressing room in the boathouse and a second coaching launch. A professional boat builder and sailor for most of his life, Turner began competitive rowing in 1995 with the Saugatuck Rowing Association in Westport. He earned seats in both a coxed four and an eight with masters from George Washington, Princeton, and Oxford Universities, and from British and Irish rowing clubs. These crews dominated their event categories for the next two years, winning gold at numerous regional competitions and at the Master's Nationals in Syracuse, NY in '96. In '97, his crews won four silvers at the Nationals in Long Beach, CA, and in '99 he stroked a pair to win the bronze at the Nationals in Atlanta, GA. In his relatively short rowing career, Turner has raced The Head of the Charles three times; the Head of the River in London, England; the Heads of the Housatonic and the Connecticut several times; the Hartford Riverfront Regatta and the Head of the Fish. Sprints include the Cromwell Cup and Riverside Sprints in Boston; Derby Sweeps and Sculls; Diamond State Master's Regatta in Delaware, and others. Before rowing, Turner had logged thousands of ocean miles as a delivery captain and racing sailor, designed sailing school curriculum and taught comprehensive cruising courses for aspiring seafarers. At nineteen, he earned a license to carry passengers for hire, and took charters aboard a boat he'd built to watch the America's Cup races off Newport, RI. He has built custom and production rowing shells, state-of-the-art racing sailboats, and a jet-drive lobster boat. He is currently restoring a seventy-year-old British cutter for his family's use. About his newest endeavor heading up Rowing at SHU, Turner says: "In coaching, as in building and craftsmanship, patience is vital. I have been told I am very patient. I'm sure this is a good thing, but I'm still going to put the pieces together as fast as I can