Peyton Cowell enters her second year as graduate assistant coach in 2021-22.
In her first season in Dallas, Cowell helped SMU to its first conference title after winning all three races at the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history. SMU finished 11th overall, marking the best finish for an AAC team at this stage. SMU earned AAC Coaching Staff of the Year for the second time and the first varsity eight was named the league's Boat of the Year. Eight SMU rowers were named to the 2021 all-conference team.
At the 2021 NCAA Championships, the Mustangs placed 13th overall in the first varsity eight after winning the C final - the highest finish in the event in conference history. After becoming the first crew in conference history to compete in a petite final, the second varsity eight placed second in their final race for eighth overall, marking the highest ever finish in any NCAA event for an AAC team.
Cowell arrived on the Hilltop from the University of Alabama, where she was part of the Crimson Tide’s first ever nationally ranked team. Cowell took first place in the pair at the 2019 Head of the Oklahoma and was an Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection her senior year. She graduated in 2020 with a B.S. in exercise science and nutrition.
A native of San Diego, Calif., Cowell attended Cathedral Catholic High School where she competed in softball for eight years prior to rowing. She rowed for San Diego Rowing Club, medaling in the coxed four at the 2015 Head of the Charles Regatta and competing at the 2016 USRowing Youth National Championships in the coxed four.
She is pursuing her M.S. in sports management at SMU.
