SEATTLE – Josh Gautreau, Melisa Ongun and Colin Sykes have been named to the Washington's women's rowing coaching staff, new head coach Yasmin Farooq announced today.
 
Gautreau comes to the UW from the University of Virginia and will serve as the Huskies' lead recruiter. Ongun joins the Husky program after having worked on the staff at Michigan, where she was a standout rower, while Sykes returns to his alma mater, where he'd previously rowed and served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's teams.
 
Gautreau was an assistant coach at Virginia for the past five years. During his tenure, crews he coached medaled at four of the last five NCAA Championships. He coached the varsity four to a national title in 2015 and the second varsity eight to bronze in 2014. In 2016, Josh led the Virginia 2V to fourth-place finish en route to the team achieving third overall. He rowed at Syracuse, earning his degree in 2006, and also rowed in the PanAm Games in the United States lightweight four in 2011.
 
"We are incredibly fortunate to have Josh come onboard during this very exciting time," Farooq said. "His reputation and results are impeccable. He is an outstanding teacher who positively impacts student-athletes and inspires them to succeed at the highest level. He is a passionate student of the sport and a fantastic finder of talent. Josh will lead our recruiting efforts and will support me in coaching our top student-athletes."
 
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.
 
"Colin bleeds purple and is one of the most experienced and respected assistant coaches in the country," Farooq said. "He has a comprehensive understanding of the development and walk-on system that is Washington's hallmark. Many Husky superstars took their first strokes on the water with Colin. We will rely on his experience as we continue to maximize that very important part of the program."
 
Ongun completed her outstanding career as a rower at Michigan in 2013. In 2009, she was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and finished her tenure with the Wolverines as a Pocock All-America first-team selection in 2013. As a junior in 2012, she stroked the Michigan varsity eight to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. Since completing her undergraduate and master's degrees, she's worked in the UM program. She has also worked as a coach in the U.S. junior national team selection camp.
 
"Mel was a standout junior national team rower who parlayed her work ethic and innate boat moving ability into later helping Michigan to one of its best seasons in program history," said Farooq. "As a coach there, she was a wonderful role model with a keen technical eye. Her ability to identify rowers who possess both skill and desire will be key to our recruiting and development efforts here.
 
"We're very fortunate to have assembled a staff that brings so much coaching and recruiting expertise to the UW. All of us are committed to helping this team achieve its full potential."