Keith Jefferson has steered Seattle Pacific University into uncharted waters in national prominence during tenure as head men's and women's rowing coach. The 2016 season was his 26th as head coach of the Falcons crews.
He took over the head coaching post prior to the 1990-91 season after serving as an assistant on the staff since 1987. Jefferson was an SPU oarsman from 1980 to 1983.
A trio of SPU crews raced to first-place finishes during the 2016 campaign. The novice four men were victorious at the Oregon State Classic, the women's novice four won the Blue Heron Sprints and the Falcons topped the women's second varsity four field at the Oregon State Classic.
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In 2014 the Falcons varsity four men finished fifth at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships and the lightweight four was the silver medalist at the 2014 Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference (NCRC) Championships.
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The 2013 racing season saw the men's varsity four win the silver medal at the WIRA Championships while the women's second varsity four brought home the bronze. The men's four finished fourth at the prestigious Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia, Pa.
In 2012, Jefferson directed the men’s novice four crew to a silver-medal performance at the WIRA Championships.
In 2011 he coached the SPU women’s varsity eight crew to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships with the Falcons eight winning the petite final.
The men’s varsity four boat raced to victory in the 2011 WIRA event and the second varsity four won at the NCRC Championships.
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In 2010 SPU placed second in the team standings at the NCAA Regatta as the varsity eight and varsity four each placed fourth in their respective events.
At the 2009 NCAA Championships, the Falcons rowed to a third-place performance in the women’s varsity eight grand final.
During the first eight years of the new century, Jefferson’s Falcons claimed national titles in seven events, medaled in four others and won regional crowns in 11.
A past oarsman, alumnus and assistant coach, Jefferson became the fifth head coach at Seattle Pacific University in the fall of 1990. Under Jefferson, the Falcons have emerged as a regional force in small college rowing.
Both men's and women's boats have proven to be competitive at the national level, including the women’s varsity eight reaching the NCAA Championships for the first time in 2007. The women's varsity four won collegiate championships in 2000, ’01, ‘03 and 2004. In 2002, both the women’s pair and novice four claimed crowns. In 2003, the lightweight four also earned gold. In 2004, Seattle Pacific’s four swept conference, regional, Pacific Coast and national championships and, in the program’s first international regatta, advanced to the semifinal of the Henley Women’s Regatta.
The men's four finished fifth in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association in 1995, the lightweight four was second at Dad Vail in 2000 and the novice four third in 2001.
Regionally, Jefferson's fleet has medaled 36 times at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association and Pacific Coast Rowing Championships, including 13 golds. SPU has totaled 50 Northwest Collegiate Rowing titles since 1994, punctuated by the school’s first overall conference women’s crown in 2001.
Jefferson succeeded Jim Schultz as coordinator of both the men's and women's programs after serving two seasons as an assistant. A graduate of Bothell High School, Jefferson rowed for SPU from 1979-83. He was a member of the light four which advanced to the semifinal at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia in 1982.
An active member of the Marines from 1983-87, Jefferson remains a lieutenant colonel in the reserves. He was called up to active duty for six months in 2002-03.
Keith and his wife Lori have a son, Randy, and daughter, Emma, and reside in Seattle.
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