Local native Gregg Hartsuff builds U of M’s rowing team to a powerhouse

Gregg Hartsuff, only son of Reid and Judy of suburban Gregory, has been the rowing coach at U of M since 1992.

by Jim Brown

If you’ve ever heard the expression, “local boy done good,” it fits the career of Gregg Hartsuff.

If you happen to pass by the Huron River near Ann Arbor you might see Hartsuff’s University of Michigan men’s eight (eight oarsmen in a boat plus a coxswain) rowing team practicing.

Hartsuff, only son of Reid and Judy of suburban Gregory, has been the rowing coach at U of M since 1992. Not only has Gregg coached at U of M, he has also coached over twenty U. S. teams in championships all over the world.  He just recently returned from a 10-day competition in Shanghai, where he said the temperatures were 100 degrees plus with oppressive humidity.

After graduating from Stockbridge High in 1986, Gregg learned to row in Grand Valley State University’s program. “That’s when I first knew I wanted to stay involved in this sport,” he says. Upon graduation from GVSU in 1990, he became the freshman rowing coach at U of M, then advanced to interim head coach the very next year. The following year, Gregg was named head coach!

Ivy league schools typically dominate rowing, but Hartsuff has made U of M a force to be reckoned with; so much so, that in 2006, the Wolverines finished sixth in the national championships, beating perennial powerhouse, Yale. In 2007, the governing body of collegiate rowing removed college club teams, like U of M, from being able to compete for a national championship. Now, the American Collegiate Rowing Association, of which Hartsuff was the first president, holds its own national championship for up to 70 colleges with rowing clubs.  This competition is held every Memorial Day weekend at Lake Lanier in Georgia.

Other highlights in Hartsuff’s career include coaching the U.S. Team that won the gold medal at the 2015 World University Championships.  He has also coached over 20 future Olympians, including three from his own Michigan team. He was recently named a finalist to be the U.S. Olympic coach for the 2020 games, a position he says might be the only reason he would consider leaving U of M.

Gregg and wife Tricia live in Chelsea. She is a Penn State professor, teaching public health issues via the internet. Fortunately, Gregg says, she only commutes to PSU 3-4 times a semester. He recently deposited his oldest son, Liam, at Sienna Heights University, where he plans to run cross country.  Liam and 16 year-old brother Zander, were both members of Chelsea’s 2017 state champion cross country team. Third son, Bram, is 13.

When talking rowing, Gregg’s passion for the sport really resonates. An understanding of physics and mechanical engineering helps to develop an oarsman’s technique. A person’s size is very important in rowing. Bigger is not necessarily better. The more weight in the boat, the lower it sits in the water and the harder it becomes to row faster. Two hundred twenty pounds is about maximum weight for a top-notch male rower.

Twelve events make up a regatta, which is a competition among several schools. Varsity eights is the highest level event and wins the most points in the regatta.

Interestingly enough, rowing was the first sport to be contested on the college level, dating to the 1800’s.

Gregg currently has about 60 oarsmen on his team, along with five other coaches. Fall is the season for conditioning, while spring is reserved for competition. Peaking for the national and world championships is very important. Obviously, teamwork is a must because one weak oarsman throws off the entire team.

Hartsuff credits his small town roots to his rowing success. He says, “Hard work was always important in my life. I helped my family in the construction business and later worked at Ransom’s for John. I took what I gained from those experiences and applied them to rowing. I wanted to work hard and challenge myself in this sport.” He credits retired JV football coach, Tom Tucker, with helping him become a better athlete and realizing everyone on a team must contribute to its success.

Growing up with what Hartsuff calls “mid-western values” has certainly made a difference in his life. Gregg Hartsuff is the type of person who makes a community proud.