RINDGE, N.H. (February 16, 2022) -- Franklin Pierce University has named Shawn Turner as the first-ever full-time head coach in the history of the institution’s women’s rowing program, as announced on Wednesday by Rachel Burleson, Director of Athletics. Turner comes to Rindge with more than a decade of collegiate coaching experience, including three years as a head coach at Vassar.

“I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to hire our first full-time rowing coach, as part of our ongoing mission to enhance the student-athlete experience,” said Burleson. “Shawn will provide important leadership to our program and help guide them to new levels of competition and success. I look forward to seeing what he can accomplish as a member of Raven Nation.”

Turner joins the Ravens after spending the previous four years as the top assistant coach at Division I Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. While in the Hawkeye State, Turner mentored six All-MAAC selections and 40 MAAC All-Academic Team selections. On the water, he coached the bronze-medal-winning Varsity 4+ boat at the 2019 MAAC Rowing Championships, as part of Drake’s overall third-place finish at the regatta.

Prior, Turner was a three-year head coach at Vassar College, in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he oversaw an academically-successful program and spearheaded a significant increase in fundraising initiatives. Turner opened his collegiate coaching career with four years as an assistant coach at Division III Hamilton College, in Clinton, N.Y., where he helped lead the Continentals to the program’s first-ever NCAA Championship appearance, and a fourth-place finish, in 2015.

“I would like to thank Rachel Burleson for her support and the opportunity to lead the women’s rowing program here at Franklin Pierce, and I would also like to thank [interim coach] Eilish Devine for her efforts in leading the program this fall,” said Turner. “I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to work with Raven student-athletes and look forward to helping them develop both on and off the water. The team has been hard at work making the changes necessary to become a top DII rowing program.”

Turner is already on campus and at work with the Ravens, and the program will be back on the water this spring.