FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason rowing head coach Ted Nagorsen has resigned from his position, announced Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Brad Edwards. After seven years with the Patriots, Nagorsen is seeking new challenges closer to family. 
 
Joseph Richards, assistant coach for the Patriots for the past five years, has been named interim head coach.

"It's difficult for me to say goodbye," Nagorsen said. "Mason has been a special place and I'm grateful to have been a part of this program and I know that it will continue to be successful. I had the privilege to coach and interact with a great group of talented women and I'm proud of what we have accomplished over the past five years. I'm looking forward to new challenges ahead of me."

"I appreciate the leadership Ted provided during his five years as head coach," said Edwards. "We are extremely grateful for all his hard work and dedication to the program and to the young women that he has mentored through the years. We wish him well.
 
"Joe Richards has been an integral part of the program as the assistant coach on Ted's staff for the past five years," added Edwards. "Joe has a strong background in collegiate rowing."


Nagorsen recently completed his fifth season as the head coach, having previously served as an assistant with the Patriots.

A visionary in the sport, Nagorsen created an inter-conference challenge regatta with a unique format, pitting conferences against each other. In the format, three programs from each of the conferences take part in the regatta with points awarded based on finish in the Varsity 8+, 2V8+  and Varsity 4+ boat races. 

His vision became reality at the inaugural event in April 2017 at the Mason Invitational. Member schools from the Atlantic 10, Big 12 and Colonial Athletic Association have competed in the first two years of the event. The third annual Mason Invitational is scheduled for April with the plan that the event will grow to four or five conferences competing in the next several years.

Mason saw continued success in Nagorsen's stint at Mason. The Varsity 8+ experienced the highest finish in program history by winning the Petite Finals at the prestigious 2017 Dad Vail Regatta. The boat returned to the Petite Final in 2018. In 2015, the Freshman 8 earned the highest finish at Dad Vails, finishing with the silver medal. The lightweight 4+ completed the 2017 fall season undefeated.
 
The student-athletes in the program found success in academics as well. Rower Nicole Van Oort became the first female student-athlete at George Mason to earn Google Cloud First Team Academic All-America® honors.
 
The Patriots earned two NCAA National Public Recognition awards, an annual scorecard of academic achievement, posting scores in the top 10 of their sport. In Nagorsen's five seasons at the helm, nine student-athletes were Peter Stearns Provost Scholar Athletes, more than 30 earned a spot on the Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and 15 earned CRCA National Academic Honors.

Joseph Richards recently completed his fifth season with the Patriots and, prior to Mason, he spent five years at Colby College as an assistant coach for men's and women's rowing. 
 
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead the women's rowing program," said Richards. "I'm excited about the potential of the program and continuing the upward trajectory we have experienced the past several years."

The Baldwinsville, N.Y., native also spent three years as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California for the men's crew club. While at USC, Richards worked primarily with the varsity men's crews.  

Richards rowed for George Washington University men's crew. He was voted captain and named MVP during his senior season after helping lead the team to a silver medal in the MV4+ at the IRA National Championship Regatta. 

A graduate of The George Washington University, Richards earned a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies in May 2004. In December 2011, Richards received a Master of Sports Leadership from Northeastern University.