Colleen Gillis was named as Assistant Coach in the summer of 2023 after serving as graduate assistant for one season. During her first season in a coaching role, the Mustangs swept the AAC Championship for the third straight year. At the NCAA Championship, the Mustangs set a program record with a ninth-place national finish.
Gillis returned to the Hilltop as graduate assistant in fall 2022.
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A former Mustang coxswain, Gillis led the first varsity eight to a program-first American Athletic Conference Championship and NCAA Championships appearance. Her first eight was part of a four-boat sweep at the 2021 conference championship, going on to finish 13th overall at NCAAs - the then-highest finish for any conference team in the boat class.
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In her senior season she was named to the All-AAC First Team, ARI Recruiting DI All-Conference Team, and AAC All-Academic Team. Her first varsity eight was named the AAC Boat of the Year.
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After graduating from SMU, she spent a season as an assistant coach and coxswain coach at Treasure Coast Rowing Club in Stuart, Fla.
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A native of Freehold, N.J., Gillis earned her bachelor of science in applied physiology and sport management from SMU in 2021 and is pursuing her master of science in sport management.
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