25ROW_Waltar_Kenzie
Rio Giancarlo

Women's Rowing

Waltar Named SPU Women's Rowing Head Coach

SEATTLE – Kenzie Waltar has been promoted from assistant to head coach of the Seattle Pacific University women's rowing team, announced by Athletics Director Dan Lepse on Thursday.
 
"We are excited to announce Kenzie Waltar as the new women's rowing head coach at Seattle Pacific," Lepse said. "She brings a wealth of experience to the position, including her service as an assistant coach for the Falcons. There have already been great contributions from Kenzie in that role, and we look forward to seeing her increased impact when taking the helm of the program."
 
Waltar joined the SPU coaching staff as an assistant during the 2023-24 season. She's primarily overseen the Varsity 4+ boats for the Falcons. SPU won the V4+ national championship in 2024 and finished fifth at the national championships in 2025. Now, she'll take charge of the entire program.
 
"I am incredibly honored to step into this role," Waltar said. " The two things that have shaped me the most in my life are faith and rowing, so coaching here at SPU has been such a gift to me. I have loved coaching a team that is both competitive and caring. Of course, I thank my mentor and predecessor, Caitlin McClain, for creating an environment in the Shellhouse that feels like home. However, I must also point to the athletes for upholding such a beautiful team culture. It's not always easy to push each other and lift each other up at the same time, but it's who we are."
 
Waltar was a four-year student-athlete at the University of Washington from 2014-2018. She competed in multiple boats throughout her career including the second varsity 8+, varsity 4+, and the varsity 2x. In her senior year, she won the collegiate doubles event at the 2017 Head of the Charles and competed in the Stonor Challenge at the 2018 Henley Royal Regatta.
 
Waltar is a two-time PAC-12 Champion, a two-time Class Day Champion, and was part of the team that swept 1st place in the 2017 NCAA Division I Championships and placed 2nd in the 2018 NCAA Division I Championships. She was also named a National Scholar-Athlete by the CRCA and twice earned First-Team Academic All PAC-12 honors. She is incredibly grateful for her time as a Husky.
 
"A standout rower as a collegian at Washington, Kenzie also possesses knowledge collected from coaching in the club ranks," Lepse added. "Her commitment to faith will ensure that SPU student-athletes will be provided with well-rounded academic, athletic, and character-building experience."
 
Since graduating with a degree in English, Waltar began her coaching journey in 2019 at the club that taught her to row in high school, Sammamish Rowing Association in Redmond, WA. She has coached a wide range of ages and abilities in her five years of experience including masters, juniors, novices, and well-seasoned rowers. Her main focus has been with SRA's 5 a.m. Competitive Masters who are consistent front-runners in both local and abroad regattas.
 
In addition to coaching, Waltar has spent the last three years in full-time vocational ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and she continues to have a strong heart for faith and sports.
When she's not coaching, Waltar enjoys hiking, cooking, CrossFit, mountaineering, and volunteering with her church's high school ministries.
 
With a background in Division I rowing, master's coaching, and vocational ministry, Waltar is excited to join the team at Seattle Pacific University.
 
"I'm so grateful for the coaches, mentors, and friends who have helped me get here," Waltar said. "Caitlin McClain, who was already mentioned, has been an absolute legend to work with and to learn from. Gracie Hoidal, who will continue as an assistant this upcoming season, has been the best support through all the highs and all the lows. The staff at Sammamish Rowing Association, there are too many to name, who first ignited my passion for coaching. All of my coaches and teammates at Washington taught me that women are strong beyond measure and that together, we can achieve things far greater than ourselves. And of course, my family, who has been my support forever and always.  I would not be who I am today without these people and so many others."
 
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