One of the most accomplished coaches in international rowing history, Al Morrow competed for Canada at the 1976 Olympic Games before embarking on a legendary coaching career. He coached at ten Olympic Games and twenty World Championships and helped Canadian athletes win a combined 25 Olympic and World Championship medals. In 1999, World Rowing named him Coach of the Year.
Al Morrow is widely regarded as one of the most successful international rowing coaches in history. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, he transitioned from a national-level rowing athlete to a legendary coach, guiding Canadian crews across nine Olympic Games and winning 25 combined Olympic and World Championship medals.
Athletic Career
Morrow began rowing in 1965 with the Hamilton Leander Boat Club and later rowed for Western University, the University of British Columbia (UBC), and the St. Catharines Rowing Club.
Represented Canada on the national team six times between 1970 and 1976.
Won a bronze medal in the men's four at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City.
Concluded his competitive rowing career as a member of Canada's 1976 Olympic Team in Montreal.
University of Victoria (UVic): Took over as head coach in 1978, building UVic into a national powerhouse that produced 18 athletes for the 1984 Canadian Olympic team alone. Co-founded the annual UBC/UVic Brown's Cup Challenge.
Western University: Led the Western women's rowing program from 1988 to 2010, guiding the Mustangs to 13 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) titles and 3 Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURCs).
In 1986, Morrow joined Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) full-time at the National Rowing Team Training Centre. In 1990, he became the head coach of the Canadian Women's National Team, directing the program during its most dominant era.
Olympic Success: Coached Canadian women's crews to 8 Olympic medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze) between 1992 and 2008.
World Championships: Guided national team athletes to 15 World Championship medals.
Mentorship & Development: Spearheaded RCA's Coach Mentorship Program, running clinics and educational workshops to train future generations of coaches.
FISA Coach of the Year: Named the World Rowing Federation (FISA) International Coach of the Year in 1999.
Halls of Fame: Inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame, the Rowing Canada Hall of Fame, and the Row Ontario Hall of Fame.
National Honors: Received the Governor General's Meritorious Service Medal and the Geoff Gowan Coaching Award for service to Canadian sport.
