NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Friends of YWC Head Coach Will Porter, the winningest coach in program history, continues to add to his impressive résumé, as he was announced as the CRCA Division I National Coach of the Year on Friday.

"It is the greatest honor to be recognized by my fellow coaches who know firsthand the challenges of coaching at the collegiate level, said Porter. "I enjoy helping young people develop into strong, hard-charging athletes . Building fast crews is awesome but building fast teams where everyone shares the same dream is the real goal. When it works, there is nothing more gratifying."
 
Porter guided the Bulldogs through an exceptional 2025 season, capped off by a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships with 121 points, a program-best finish, since also placing second in 2004. It also marked Yale's seventh straight year with a top-10 finish in the nation. Additionally, the Bulldogs' varsity eight had a historic first-place finish, setting a new championship record with a time of 6:06.138. The victory marked the boat's first national title since 2010.  
 
Porter also led Yale to the Ivy League overall team title with 89 points, earning the automatic bid to NCAAs. The team captured gold in the second varsity eight and the varsity four, and took silver in the varsity eight, accumulating 45 points to secure their spot on the national stage. Every Yale crew also earned a medal at the league championship. The Bulldogs also had a dominant regular season, highlighted by an Eisenberg Cup win over Princeton, and swept Michigan, Cornell, Syracuse, Dartmouth, and Harvard-Radcliffe.
 
The CRCA Coach of the Year Award honors the exceptional leaders behind the success of collegiate rowing programs across all NCAA divisions and the lightweight category. This award recognizes those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, competitive achievement, and a deep commitment to the student-athletes and teams they guide.
 
Whether through championship performance, transformative program growth, or the cultivation of team culture, these awards celebrate the individuals who elevate the sport and embody the values of excellence, integrity, and impact.