PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for women's rowing, Kumari Lewis, has announced her resignation from that position as she has been named the new head coach for women's rowing at the University of Alabama.
 
Lewis spent the last eight years with the Quakers, starting as an assistant coach before her promotion to associate head coach/recruiting coordinator ahead of the 2023-24 season.
 
"I could not be more grateful to the Penn community," said Lewis. "These last eight years at Penn have shaped who I am as a person and coach and it is certainly bittersweet to be leaving. I am grateful for all the doors my time at Penn has opened up, and I am excited for this next adventure in Tuscaloosa. That said, PWC will always hold a piece of my heart."
 
"What a great hire for Alabama," said Penn's head coach, Bill Manning, who just completed his first year with the program. "Kumari has helped elevate Penn Women's Rowing to where we stand today: a consistent NCAA Championships competitor and highly ranked team. It's hard to overstate her contributions to the increased success the program has experienced these past five years. She has helped set a new standard and higher expectations.
 
"Alabama is getting a head coach who cares deeply about her athletes and their welfare," he continued. "Kumari is a coach committed to the profession and determined to achieve competitive success. Her time at Penn and on Boathouse Row has prepared her well to take the reins at Alabama, and we are thrilled for her to have this opportunity."
 
During Lewis' time on staff, Penn made significant strides that included the program's first four full-team appearances at the NCAA Championship from 2022-25. (Prior to 2022, the Quakers' only NCAA appearance had been a Four in 1998). After tying for 11th place with SMU in 2022, Penn jumped to sixth in the overall team standings at the 2023 NCAAs as the Varsity Eight finished fourth, the Second Varsity Eight was ninth, and the Varsity Four moved up one spot in its standing from the previous year (16th). The Quakers followed that up with a tenth-place finish in 2024 as history was made again with all three boats earning top-12 finishes (1V8 10th, 2V8 10th, V4A 11th). Penn was 17th at the 2025 Championship.

In addition, Penn's NCAA boats won five medals at the Ivy League Championship during Lewis' time on staff: three from the Varsity Eight and two from the 2V8.

Following the 2023 spring season, Lewis—along with head coach Wesley Ng and fellow assistant Helen Samaniego—were named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Region I Staff of the Year. That staff was still in place a month later when the Quakers made their debuts at both the Henley Women's Regatta and the Henley Royal Regatta over in the United Kingdom. Of particular note, Penn's Varsity Eight advanced all the way to the Island Challenge Cup final at the Royal Regatta, falling just short of beating British University champion Oxford Brookes for the title.
 
For the latest on Penn women's rowing, follow @PennWomensRowing on Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.