John Feller, ’91 shared this photo of the 1990 Silver Medal IRA straight four. Left to right are: Pat Stoa ’91, Coach Myhr, John Feller ’91, and Dr. Rob Palmer ’91.

Wisconsin Rowing has always been about more than what happens on the water. It is a community built across generations—by the athletes, coaches, alumni, families and friends who have shaped the program and continue to believe in what it can become.

As part of an ongoing series, Marcy Heim, Stewards Alumni and Development Director, is interviewing  members of the Wisconsin Rowing family – sharing their stories—in their own words.

For this conversation, Marcy caught up with Coach Myhr, whose Wisconsin Rowing story stretches from student-athlete to assistant coach, alumnus—and now, once again, coach!

Marcy: Coach Myhr welcome!  You have a tremendous history with Wisco Rowing! Tell us about your experiences here. What you loved. What you loved to hate . Races you remember…..

Coach Myhr:  One my strongest impressions on arriving at Wisconsin as a student athlete was that this is an utterly fearless place.  The oarsmen here knew the “odds” and just didn’t care.  I stepped into a culture of celebrating and diving headlong – gleefully – into the toughest workouts, experiences, races available.  We didn’t expect automatic success, but we also didn’t expect failure – we focused on the “let’s go find out.”  To me, that was college rowing and it was intoxicating to be a part of.  There was nothing we thought we couldn’t do.  And even though there was plenty we didn’t do, that didn’t stop our enthusiasm for the next hurdle.  It really has only been since leaving Wisconsin that I’ve come to appreciate how rare of a culture that is – that the most common route, even from those that are the most capable, is to try to predict the outcome in advance, short-circuiting the process before it begins.

Marcy: Were there special friendships formed as part of the crew experiences?

Coach Myhr: Honestly, every single one.  I have friends from my rowing days that I speak with regularly – and some that I only see at reunions and the like, where we pick up seamlessly as though no time has passed.  These are my people – I’ve never found better.  And at the top of the list?  My wife, Kitty Shonk, is a Wisconsin Rowing grad (1994) and whom I met when we were both helping as assistant coaches in 1995.

Marcy:  When you think about how your rowing experiences as a coach here and elsewhere made a difference in your life overall – what comes to mind?

Coach Myhr: For such a brutally physical sport, this is primarily a mental game.  The number one most important aspect to success in rowing (and I would argue, in anything) is the belief that you can.  Not that you will, necessarily, but that there is nothing you can’t do, if you’re willing to put in the work and make the necessary sacrifices.  And that’s a big “if.”  But stubborn, unyielding tenacity – putting your head down and grinding – I mean, that’s rowing, right?  And it applies to so many parts of life.

Marcy:  Was there a specific race or moment or experience coaching that stands out for you as a major shift for you or powerful event?

Coach Myhr: So many.  And it’s the failures, generally.  Coach Clark years ago said something to the effect of when you win, it almost feels bewildering in a “what happened to the rest of you?” kind of way – like they let you down by not giving you a better fight.  I remember racing Dartmouth for the Cochrane Cup my senior year – that was the year that “hatchet” blades came out and Dartmouth was the first team to adopt them.  In Boston, Dartmouth was using the new blades, we were not.  And it was just not a contest – I don’t recall ever feeling that powerless – we just got stomped.  We all thought (hoped) it was the blades – and it was the blades, to an extent. But it was more that that was a very good Dartmouth crew. They won the Sprints by open water several weeks later and tied for the IRA win in June.  Things that don’t make sense in the moment often do in retrospect.

Marcy:  Coach Myhr, The Stewards of 1874 is honored and delighted to be supporting the UW Men’s Rowing program.  How do you see the role of private support impacting teams around the country and why should our alumni and friends consider their own gifts to the Stewards of 1874 Excellence Fund now?

Coach Myhr:  Every top team in the country that is thriving is doing so on the basis of alumni fundraising and endowments – making them, essentially, self-sustaining.  As an alum, I am so grateful to the Stewards for the work they are putting in, and to the alums and friends of the program that are stepping up, in a big way to support our coaches and team.  I see a shift from “helping” the program to “building a foundation” for success now, and well into the future.  There is palpable momentum right now – and we only get there with continued, and ever building, support.

Marcy:  Coach, how do you see the timeline for our return to the podium? 

Coach Myhr:  My approach to rowing (and everything else, really) tends to be process driven.  Meaning, let’s do as many things right – consistently – as we can.  From what I can see, the community effort at Wisconsin Rowing is putting the pieces into place where we can do that.  Results will follow.  Great programs support great athletes, great athletes drive results, results attract great athletes AND generate increased alumni enthusiasm, enthusiasm drives support.  I have utter faith in Coach Hoopman and his vision and abilities – my job is to support him and help him execute his plan as well and consistently as we can.  How fast can we move?  Watch us!

Marcy:  Coach Myhr, any last comments you’d like to share as we wrap up?

Coach Myhr:  I’ve long been profoundly grateful for the opportunity I had to row with such amazing people in college – and then to work with unparalleled coaches and athletes as a coach here. It feels almost unbelievable that I get to come back for more.  I’ve been on a text thread with Coaches Hoopman, McNicholas, and Clark for the past week or so – these guys are on fire!  Forward!