Colin Sykes - Women's Rowing Coach - University of Washington Athletics

Colin Sykes

Title:
Women's Assistant Coach
Email:
sykesc@uw.edu
Phone:
(206) 221-9334

Colin Sykes enters his second year of his second stint as a UW women's rowing assistant coach in 2017-18.

Sykes, who returned to Conibear Shellhouse in July of 2016 as a part of new head coach Yaz Farooq's initial staff, had also served as a Husky coach with the UW men's program from 2003 to 2007 and with the Washington women in 2008 and 2009.

In his first year back with the Huskies, Sykes helped guide the UW to tremendous heights.

In 2017, the Huskies won the NCAA Championship in unprecedented fashion, winning all three grand finals for the first time in the 21-year history of the event. It was the fourth NCAA title in UW history and the Huskies' first since 2001.

The Huskies also won their first Pac-12 Championship since 2003, sweeping all five events, and the Washington coaching staff was named the Division I Coaching Staff of the Year by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA).

Sykes coaches the UW's varsity four boat, which won the NCAA grand final by more than four and a half seconds in 2017, helping the Huskies to their sweep.

Sykes lettered at Washington in 1990 and 1992, winning Pac-10 titles in the varsity eight in each of those years. He went on to serve as an intern coach for the Washington men's program from 2003 to 2007, coaching Husky fours to Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships six times. In 2008, he moved into a coaching job with the Washington women, coaching the varsity four to the NCAA title that year.

He attended the University of Washington and lettered in 1990 and 1992 as a member of the varsity eight. His 1990 UW crew won the Pac-10 varsity eight crown and placed fifth at the National Rowing Championships.

Washington also captured the Copley Cup at the San Diego Crew Classic in 1990, with Sykes stroking the varsity eight. In 1992, the varsity eight won another Pac-10 title and was seventh at the National Rowing Championships. Skyes was named to the All-Pac-10 team for his efforts in 1992. Sykes also served as the head women's coach at Cincinnati Country Day School in 2001-2002 before returning to the Seattle area.

Sykes is a native of Kent, Conn., where he ran cross country and rowed at the Kent School. Sykes twice represented the Kent School at the Henley Royal Regatta. An avid fisherman, Sykes spent many of his summers on Nantucket. He worked for several years at a tackle shop and as a fishing guide. Sykes owned and operated the commercial fishing vessel "Herring Choker" for six years, off the north Atlantic coast. In his spare time, Sykes enjoys sailing. He is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain and has sailed in four International One Design (IOD) World Championships, and won gold in 2001 and silver in 2008 at the North American Championship.