Derek Updegraff - Women's Rowing Coach - Bucknell University Athletics

Derek Updegraff

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
updegrff@bucknell.edu
Phone:
570-577-3974

Derek Updegraff, a 1993 Bucknell graduate, returned to the women's rowing coaching staff in October 2022. Updegraff, who has most recently served as head coach of the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Association and head swimming and diving coach at Lewisburg Area High School, was previously a member of the Bison coaching staff from 1993-2004 and 2008-09.

A member of Bucknell's lightweight crew during his undergraduate days, Updegraff remained in Lewisburg as an assistant rowing coach from 1993-2002. He then took the reins as head coach of the men's club-varsity rowing team from 2002-04 before moving west to become the head men's rowing coach at UC Santa Barbara. He spent four seasons with the Gauchos and coached two Dad Vail medal-winning crews.

Updegraff returned to Bucknell in 2008-09, when he coached the women's novice program while assisting with the Patriot League champion varsity squad.

In November 2011, Updegraff took over a two-year-old Lewisburg swimming & diving program and grew the roster from 10-12 swimmers to more than 30 athletes. He has coached three District IV championship teams, two with the boys and one with the girls.

Updegraff has also had two stints as head coach with the Central Pennsylvania Rowing Associations, where he leads community masters and junior rowing teams as well as a popular Learn to Row program. He was the CPRA's very first head coach.

Updegraff, who holds a US Rowing Level III Coaching Certification, received the Randall Leavitt Trophy for service to Bucknell Crew in 1997. He received his bachelor's degree in political science and German at Bucknell, and he went on to earn a master of science degree in early childhood education from Bloomsburg University.