Jasper T. Goodwin

Columbia's Crew Coach 1903-1905

As a Columbia University student, Goodwin was a member of several crews.  In his sophomore year, he made a name for himself as part of the 6 oared crew, which swept the field at the regatta Saratoga in 1874.  Goodwin's renown grew as stroke for the  four-oared crew that won the Visitor's Cup at Henley in 1878, the first American crew to do so.  Photographs and coverage of this crew were found in national newspapers and magazines.

In the fall of 1903, Goodwin returned to Columbia as head coach and he needed to rebuild the crew that year since all but one member of the 1903 varsity had graduated.  The crew he built was successful, winning 5 out of 6 races in the Harlem Regatta, but finished 5th out of 6 at Poughkeepsie.  1905 did not see much improvement with Columbia finishing 4th in the varsity race, last in the varsity 4, and 3rd in the freshman.  Goodwin's contract ended with the 1905 Poughkeepsie Regatta and Columbia began looking for a new coach.  Francis S. Bangs, Columbia's representative on the IRA Board of Stewards, was in favor of graduate coaches like Goodwin, but many professional coaches were interested in the job.

Goodwin stood out from other rowing coaches during this time as he did not require crews to train in cold weather and only began practices once the weather had improved.  He felt that overtraining was counterproductive.

Goodwin practiced law with the firm of Dixon, Goodwin, & Williams.  He passed away in 1913.  He was inducted into the rowing hall of fame in 1962 as part of the 1878 Columbia four oared crew.

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