Tom Madden enters his seventh season as the Head Men's & Women's Rowing Coach at La Salle University in 2019-20. Madden had been the head rowing coach at La Salle College High School for the prior two years.
Madden's 2013-14 squad responded well to the new coaching staff, as the Explorers saw across-the-board improvement in their boat times from the beginning of the season to the end. The men's and women's varsity eight boats showed that by advancing to reps at the historic Dad Vail Regatta on the Schuylkill River in May.
“I'm honored to be chosen for the opportunity to lead a program with such a rich history of success. La Salle is a great rowing school in a great rowing city and I am very excited to work with the athletes, alumni, athletic department and the university in realizing the potential of both the men's and women's programs,” Madden said upon his hire in the summer of 2013.
In his last year at La Salle College High School, Madden helped the Explorers to one of their most successful years in recent memory. The Explorers were one of three high schools nationally to qualify each of the five boys 8's at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America National Championship. The Second Varsity 8 won the National Championship at that event.
Five 8's reached the semifinals at the Stotesbury Regatta, with three earning medals, and seven athletes were recruited to row for Division I programs in the class of 2013.
Prior to serving at La Salle College High School, Madden spent five years at The Ohio State University, the final two as the director of club rowing and men's head coach. During his time in Columbus, in which he rose from the men's freshman/novice coach to the associate head coach, to the assistant director of rowing and then to the director of rowing, Madden helped grow the program substantially.
He coached the varsity eight to its best Dad Vail showing in several years with three entries making the semifinals. Madden also was an assistant coach at Upper Arlington High School for three summers and an assistant at La Salle College High School for the spring of 2006.
Madden rowed four years at Saint Joseph's University and graduated in 1999 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and with a master's in international marketing in 2000. While rowing for the Hawks, Madden was a member of the varsity lightweight 8 that won the Knecht Cup, Atlantic 10 Invitational and the Dad Vail Regatta. He capped his career by participating at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.
He is a 1995 graduate of La Salle College High School where he was a four-time Philadelphia City Champion and three-time Philadelphia Catholic League champion as a member of La Salle Crew.
Madden holds a Level III certification from US Rowing. His father, Vince, coached rowing at La Salle University from 1969 to 1976.
