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 Men's Rowing Coach and Director of Rowing. Starting in his first season as head coach, La Salle has qualified for four consecutive IRA National Championships, establishing the Explorers as one of the fastest-rising programs in collegiate 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+ advanced to the IRA National Championship, marking the program’s first appearance at the event in program history.
In 2023–24, Krakic led the Explorers’ Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 to the highest national rankings in program history at the time. 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. That season, La Salle also captured the Kerr Cup title, and 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 8 boats at the IRA National Championship for the first time in program history. The V8 placed third in the C Final to achieve the program’s first top-15 national ranking, while both the 2V8 and 3V8 also advanced to their respective C Finals. The Explorers secured their second consecutive Kerr Cup title, highlighted by a commanding 15-second victory over Saint Joseph’s in 2025. That summer, Krakic led La Salle to the Henley Royal Regatta, where the Explorers became the first team in program history to win a race at Henley, advancing in the prestigious event before falling 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.
Prior to becoming head coach, Krakic served as a volunteer coach with both La Salle and Drexel. At Drexel, he helped coach the men’s Varsity 4+ to the IRA Grand Final in 2018. A former standout for the Dragons, Krakic recorded more than 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 8’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. 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.
