Ivo Krakic joined La Salle University’s rowing program in January 2022 as an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams. Later that year, he was elevated to Head Coach of Men’s Rowing and Director of Rowing.
In his first season, Krakic guided La Salle to a historic breakthrough at the Dad Vail Regatta, where the Explorers captured their first gold medals in 20 years, winning both the Freshman 4+ and JV 4+. That same spring, the Varsity 4+ went on to place eighth at the IRA National Championship, marking another milestone for the program.
In 2023, Krakic led the Explorers’ Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 to the highest national rankings in program history. The 2V8 concluded the IRA National Championship with a fourth-place finish in the C Final, earning a No. 16 national ranking, while the V8 placed sixth in its C Final to close the season ranked No. 18. For his leadership, Krakic was named a finalist for the Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) Coach of the Year.
During the 2024–25 season, Krakic guided La Salle to another milestone, entering three Varsity 8s at the IRA National Championship for the first time. The V8 placed third in the C Final to achieve the first top-15 ranking in program history, while both the 2V8 and 3V8 also reached their respective C Finals. Under his leadership, the Explorers captured back-to-back Kerr Cup titles in 2024 and 2025, including a commanding 15-second victory over Saint Joseph’s in 2025.
That summer, Krakic took the Explorers on a historic journey to the Henley Royal Regatta, where La Salle became the first team in program history to win a race at Henley, advancing in the prestigious event before bowing out to Harvard.
For the third consecutive year in 2025, Krakic’s leadership also helped the La Salle men’s rowing staff earn finalist recognition for the IRA/IRCA Division I Coaching Staff of the Year, further solidifying the program’s national reputation.
Krakic’s connection to Philadelphia rowing runs deep. Featured in the 2025 documentary It’s a Philly Thing, which highlights the La Salle–Drexel rivalry, he has been central to one of the city’s most compelling athletic stories. The Philadelphia Inquirer has noted his varsity eight “finished a close second each of the last two years,” underscoring the competitive edge fueling the rivalry.
He previously served as a volunteer coach with both La Salle and Drexel. At Drexel, he helped coach the men’s varsity four to the IRA Grand Final in 2018. A former standout for the Dragons, Krakic rowed four years at Drexel (2013–17), earning three Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area honors and recognition on the IRA All-Academic Team.
As a student-athlete, Krakic amassed over 15 race victories and 18 additional top-four finishes. He played a key role in Drexel’s five consecutive Dad Vail Regatta team titles, including the varsity eight’s second gold medal in program history in 2017. The Dragons also recorded top-20 IRA finishes in each of his four seasons, peaking at No. 14 in the national polls during his junior year. A native of Croatia, Krakic also represented his country at both the European and World U19 Rowing Championships.
