Union College Athletics

A veteran of the collegiate rowing scene, Burt Apfelbaum enters his third season as women's crew assistant coach at Union College. Overall, he has 40-plus years of coaching experience.

Under Apfelbaum's direction, the 2014-15 Dutchwomen won seven races (Varsity Eight-2, Novice Eight-1, Varsit Four-2, Novice Four-2). The Garnet captured the Varsity Eight Petite Final at the New York State Championships and received Liberty League Boat of the Week honors (Oct. 13). The V8s set a season-best time at St. Lawrence, clocking 7:09.2 over 2,000 meters.  The program also placed nine student-athletes on the Liberty League All-Academic Team while Maggie Hoffman was chosen to the All-Liberty League Team.

In 2013-14, the Union women posted seven first-place finishes in five different events (V8-3, 2V8-1, N8-1, V4-1 and 2V4-1).  His 2V8 crew earned Liberty League Boat of the Week honors after defeating Mt. Holyoke, Simmons, and Franklin & Marshall on Lake Quinsigamond. Apfelbaum developed an All-Liberty League performer in senior Lauren Hafkeymeyer.

Apfelbaum founded the Mt. Holyoke crew program in 1976, then went on to coach for 10 seasons at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn.  At Trinity, Apfelbaum raised over a million dollars for boats, endowments and an indoor rowing facility while also coaching medalists at the Dad Vail Regatta.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Apfelbaum has developed rowers at the Olympic level and helped athletes qualify for the U.S. National Senior and Junior Teams.  He has also coached gold medal crews at U.S. Nationals, U.S. Junior Nationals, U.S. Club Nationals, the Dad Vail Regatta and the New York State Scholastic Championship.

Apfelbaum rowed for four seasons at Trinity, including two on the varsity squads, and catpured the Championship Single title at the Canadian Henley.  

Burt's wife, Stacy, is a respected coach as well and is a three-time winner of the Head of the Charles Regatta and a world champion coxswain.  The Apfelbaum's have three daughters.  Meghan, the oldest, was a semifinalist on the game show "Jeopardy";  Kate was the captain of the Trinity varsity men and attended Oxford University, where she holds the course record for the reserve race; Meredith, the youngest, had a leading role in the rowing movie "Backwards".

The Apfelbaums reside in Menands, N.Y.