COACHES
Thomas Altenhofen | Minnesota 1987
Head Coach
Hometown: Minnesota Lake, MN
talten@altkie.com
Tom Altenhofen began coaching in 1989 at the University of Minnesota where under his guidance Minnesota crews won three straight Varsity 4+ National IRA Championships from '96-'98, as well as 20 varsity gold medals at the Big 10 Invitational, Midwest Regional, and Dad Vail regattas. The crew also competed in the 1997 Royal Henley. Altenhofen was a member of Minnesota's 1987 Dad Vail Champion Varsity 4+.
Altenhofen has played a primary role in the development of a nationally competitive men's program at University of Minnesota. Several of his former athletes have pursued rowing beyond the collegiate level. Mike Wherely ('94) reached the pinnacle of rowing by winning three consecutive World Championships ('97, '98, '99) in the USA Men's 8+, and competing in the USA 4- in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. Matt Rich ('97) won the 2+ at the 2003 World Championship title in Milan, Italy. Todd Beyreuther ('98) won a silver medal in the 2001 World Cup regatta in Princeton, NJ.
Fred Orsted | Minnesota 1996
Head Freshman Coach
Hometown: Sheboygan, WI
A 1996 Physics graduate of the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology, Fred Orsted was a member of the Men's Crew from 1992 through 1996. Orsted was a member of the '92 Freshman 4+ which won Minnesota's first freshman regional title, and the first of two regional titles in his career. Orsted was also twice a Dad Vail medalist and an IRA finalist.
Since leaving the University of Minnesota Orsted has been teaching physics at Maple Grove Senior High, and returned to the team in the fall of 2001 as an assistant coach. He shares in the teams goal of developing another national championship crew.
Sean Mcnulty, Minnesota 2007
Assistant Coach
Sean McNulty rowed for the University of Minnesota’s lightweight and heavyweight Programs from 2003 to 2007. McNulty started his career as a lightweight and progressed to compete in the heavyweight class. During his tenure with the team, McNulty was Team Captain for two years and helped to secure the future of Minnesota Men’s Crew during the groundbreaking fazes of the new Boathouse facility.
John Stanoch | Minnesota 2000
Assistant Coach
stanochjohn@hotmail.com
John Stanoch rowed for the University of Minnesota's lightweight program from 1997-2000. During that period Stanoch captured three Big 10 titles, in addition to two Midwest Regional titles. Stanoch was also a integral part of an IRA and two Dad Vail finalist crews.
In 2000 Stanoch completed his Bachelor's in Business from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, and joined the coaching staff in 2001. 
Ed Podnieks | Minnesota 1991
Assistant Coach
Hometown: Edina, MN
Minnesota freshman crews coached by Ed Podnieks have captured 16 championship titles at the National IRA Championship, Dad Vail, Midwest Regional, and Big 10 Invitational regattas. In 2001 the Freshman 4+ won Minnesota's first freshman National IRA Championship title, and two freshmen were in Minnesota's 2003 IRA champion Open 4+ crew. Podnieks was the captain of the 1990 and 1991 teams and began coaching at the University of Minnesota in 1992. While at Minnesota Podnieks obtained bachelor's degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Computer Science, and recently completed his MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. |
