LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs are pleased to announce the hiring of Dan Bechard as full-time assistant coach for the Mustangs Rowing Program.
 
"I am very excited to rejoin the team that I once represented as an athlete and volunteer coach," said Bechard on his new position. "I am eager and committed to continue the legacy left by so many talented and passionate athletes, coaches and supporters."
 
A former Mustangs rower from 1999-2005 and then volunteer assistant coach from 2006-2010, Bechard rejoins the after serving as the coach for Rowing Canada's Talent Development Centre from 2010-2014 as part of the organization's Row to Podium program. In addition to his time with the Row to Podium program, Bechard served as an assistant coach with Canada's women's under 23 team in 2009 and 2010, earning a bronze medal in 2010 with the women's eight.
 
Bechard's hiring was made possible thanks to a partnership between Hudson Boatworks and the recently established Heather Cartwright Coaching Excellence Fund. The Fund, created through a $100,000 gift from Heather Cartwright, in combination with other generous contributions, will enable Western to support a highly qualified and dedicated assistant rowing coach for each of the next five years to further build the rowing team.
 
An accomplished rower for the Mustangs, Cartwright coached the lightweight women's rowing program while at Western and led the team to gold medals at the Ontario University Championships and the Dad Vail Regatta.
 
"I am grateful for the wonderful coaching and mentorship I received when I was a student at Western," says Cartwright. "I want to make sure more student-athletes have the same leadership I benefited from.
 
"I believe an excellent coach can make a big difference not only in an athlete's performance, but in their life as well. I am happy to support a great program and a terrific rowing team with this gift."
 
"Thanks to the outstanding support of the alumni who stepped forward to provide our program with the funds to create this professional coaching position and the cooperation with Hudson Boatworks," said Western head coach Volker Nolte. "Dan came through our program and obviously bleeds purple. I know him as an athlete, coach and as my graduate student. Therefore, I am absolutely delighted to have him in our program and receive this kind of support.
 
"It is a major step in the history of Western Rowing to have a second full-time coach on board and with Dan's experience and enthusiasm, our program will be stronger than ever."
 
Prior to joining Rowing Canada, Bechard found success as both an athlete and a coach with the Mustangs, winning OUA two OUA titles as a student-athlete in 2000 and 2005, and then three as a coach in 2006, 2007, and 2009. He also helped guide Western to two Canadian University Rowing Championships in 2006 and 2008. Along with his multiple championship wins, Bechard is the only coach to be named both the men's and women's Canadian University Rowing Association coach of the year, earning the men's honours in 2008, and the women's in 2010.