Patrick A. Dempsey

Georgetown's Crew Coach 1902-1906, 1910

As Georgetown's crew program expanded, Georgetown hired Patrick A. Dempsey to replace alumnus Claude Zappone and Dempsey would be their second coach in the program's revival.   Dempsey was a well known chamption sculler, originally from Ireland.  He came to prominence as a coach while training the Vesper Boat Club's eight oared entry in the 1900 Olympics in Paris, which brought home a gold medal.

In his short time as Georgetown's coach, Dempsey's crew amazed experts at Poughkeepsie in 1903 when they came second in the varsity race to Cornell.  Georgetown's crew was not a sure thing at anytime and was projected to finish dead last.  This triumph bolstered the fledgling program and led to their continued participation at Poughkeepsie.  

When not coaching, Dempsey operated a very large boathouse along the waterfront on K Street in Washington, D.C. known as Dempsey's boathouse, which he built in1903 and expanded in 1914.   He also served as Secretary of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen. 

After coaching for Georgetown, Dempsey coached another crew from the Vesper Boat Club of Philadelphia that went on to win the Henley Regatta in 1907.  He later coached the Potomac Boat Club of Washington, D.C.  He returned to Georgetown in 1909, but he did not remain there long as shortly thereafter the rowing program was discontinued.

Dempsey passed away in 1932 leaving his boathouse to his 5 children.

Image Gallery