NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – An internationally recognized head coach will lead Merrimack College on the Merrimack River.
The Merrimack athletic department on Wednesday announced Ellen Minzner has been named the program's Director of Rowing. She will take over the Warriors program starting in the 2026-27 academic year.
A native of Lawrence, Mass., Minzner brings more than three decades of coaching experience at the high school, collegiate and national team levels. She also is a decorated five-time national team athlete with back-to-back World Championship gold medals in the lightweight women's 2- in 1995 and 1996. She has coached with USRowing since 2013 and currently serves as the Head Coach of Paralympic Disciplines and Lead Coach for the Boston Training Center where she oversees the development of both Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
"We are thrilled to welcome Ellen as the new leader of our rowing program," Merrimack athletic director Joe Foley said. "Ellen has steadily advanced throughout her coaching career, from working with individual events to serving as a head coach with USRowing. Her experience, leadership and proven ability to develop athletes make her a tremendous fit for Merrimack. We have high hopes for our rowing program in the coming years, and we're confident our program will continue to grow with Ellen at the helm."
Under Minzner's leadership, U.S. Paralympic crews have reached the podium in 11 of the past 14 years the World Championships or Paralympic Games, including silver in the Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. In recognition of that success, Minzner was named the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee's Paralympic Coach of the Year in 2023. She is also a two-time recipient (2016, 2024) of the Order of Ikkos, a special medallion given by Team USA Olympic and Paralympic medalists to a coach, mentor, family member, or supporter who helped them reach the podium.
"Having coached on the Merrimack River for many years, I have long believed that a thriving Merrimack College rowing program would be a tremendous asset to both the college and the surrounding community, and I am excited to bring this program to its full potential," Minzner said.
Minzner's coaching career has included stops at nearly every level of the sport. In addition to her work with the USRowing National Team, she has served as the girls head coach at Phillips Academy and The Winsor School, head coach at Wellesley College, and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at both the University of California, Berkeley and Kansas State University.
Minzner also has been a leader in expanding access to rowing, an aspect that made her a perfect fit for the rapidly-growing Merrimack program.
She spent a decade at Community Rowing, Inc. in Boston, serving as Director of Inclusion and Advocacy and leading programs for inner-city youth, military veterans and individuals with disabilities. Minzner secured government and foundation grants, managed a program budget and developed partnerships with organizations including Boston Public Schools, Boston Children's Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and local VA health centers. She also developed a city-wide school-based initiative with Boston Public Schools that increased participation by more than 200 percent.
Prior to her time at Community Rowing, Minzner served as Executive Director of Greater Lawrence Community Boating, where she led the Merrimack Valley's largest public-access boating operation and established Greater Lawrence Rowing for youth and adults.
Minzner got her start in rowing at Villanova University, where she was captain and MVP. She holds a master's degree in Urban Planning from Tufts University, and currently resides in Haverhill, MA.
