DES MOINES, Iowa – Charlie DiSilvestro has resigned from his head coaching position after over 30 years leading the Bulldog rowing program, Drake University Director of Athletics Brian Hardin announced this morning.

DiSilvestro will remain with the Bulldogs in a newly-created position as Advisor to the Athletics Director until this fall to ensure continuity for the program as the 2026-27 year gets underway. 
 
"It is with heavy heart that I have decided to retire as the Head Rowing Coach of Drake Women's Rowing," DiSilvestro said. "These past 33 years have been an amazing experience for me and my family, but it's time to move on to the next phase of my life." 

DiSilvestro began his NCAA head coaching tenure in July 1993 when the Drake rowing program transitioned from club status to a sponsored varsity sport within the Bulldogs' athletic department. 

He led the Bulldogs to notable success on and off the water including fundraising for the rowing program's headquarters since 2016, the $1.3 million state-of-the-art Bright-Beckwith Boathouse, which provides Drake rowing and the Greater Des Moines rowing community a proper home to safely and efficiently hone their craft. 

DiSilvestro led Drake to a pair of top five Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference placements in the last eight years including a third-place result in 2019 and fifth place finish in 2021.

Bulldog rowers saw individual success, both in the classroom and in their boats. DiSilvestro was instrumental in helping 2010 graduate Chelsea Smith's training at US Rowing Lightweight Pre-Elite Sculling Camp while finishing second in the lightweight women's single sculls at the US Rowing U23 World Championship Trials a year earlier. Smith went on to help Team USA place fourth in the lightweight senior quadruple sculls at the 2012 World Rowing Championships after winning two bronze medals at the XVI Pan American Games in 2011. In May 2012, DiSilvestro guided Bulldog fivesome of Jacque Nowers, Kat Moore, Susan Goullette, Sarah Travis, and Maggie Benhart to the women's varsity heavyweight championship at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta.

DiSilvestro was named the MAAC Coach of the Year in 2012, the same year he led Drake to its first conference title in school history. A year prior, Charlie was named Collegiate of the Year by the Dad Vail Regatta, presented annually to the coach with outstanding success on the water while also contributing to the regatta. 
 
"I want to sincerely thank Charlie for his decades of service to our rowing program and athletics department," Drake director of athletics Brian Hardin said. "The impact Charlie has had on our rowing team is hard to appropriately acknowledge and celebrate. He is the only head coach we have had in the history of our NCAA Division I program and what our student-athletes have accomplished is largely due to his leadership. As the dean of our head coaches, Charlie had a consistent presence in our head coaches meetings that will be missed."
 
"My job was made very easy because of the work the previous Head Coach Joe Saluri had in place when I arrived," DiSilvestro said. "The booster program he set up ensured our team would have the resources needed to compete at a high level, we couldn't have done this without him. I want to thank Mike Cigelman who hired me back in 1993. His faith and support in me made him the best boss I could have ever asked for. I also want to thank all the amazing assistant coaches I shared so many great experiences with through the years. Without their tireless work and dedication, our team would never have achieved all the success we've had. I also want to thank Brian Hardin and Alex Crowl for letting me retire on my own terms and timeline. Finally, I want to thank all the amazing athletes who rowed for me through the years. My greatest joy as a coach was to see young women and men come into our program and watch them become dedicate Division I Student-Athletes."

Prior to moving to Des Moines, DiSilvestro served as head crew coach at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Ill. from 1990-93. While at Loyola, he led his teams to seven titles including the Boys' Novice 8 crown at the 1991 Midwest High School Championships in Indianapolis. DiSilvestro also served as head coach of the Penn Athletic Club Junior Program from 1988-89 and Bonner High School in Philadelphia from 1987-88.

A member of the United States Rowing Association, Charlie competed collegiately at Wichita State University from 1984-86 before competing for the Penn Athletic Club from 1986-87 while training for the U.S. national team.

In DiSilvestro's new role with Drake Athletics, he will, among other duties, help with student-athlete recruitment and retention this summer plus onboarding of the new head coach.
 
"Charlie has earned this ability to turn the page to this next chapter of his life," Hardin added. "I'm pleased he will remain connected to the program to help with the transition to our next head coach as that will help as it will help set us up for success."
 
Drake will begin an immediate national search for the next Bulldog rowing head coach which will be led by Associate Athletics Director Alex Crowl.