William "Bill" Haines

Harvard's Crew Coach 1915-1923

MIT's Crew Coach 1924-1937

Columbia's Crew Coach 1925, temporary arrangement for Poughkeepsie Regatta

William Haines, an English champion oarsman and coach, came to the United States in 1911.  He found a position as coach at the Union Boat Club in Boston and began coaching at Harvard University in 1915.  At Harvard, Haines' crews performed well and in 1916, they broke the record for the 4-mile course at New London.  One of his Harvard crews also made it to the final heat for the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley, the oldest competition and highest honor of that regatta.

In December 1923, he accepted the head coach position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) began his career there in 1924.  Rowing prospered at MIT under Haines and he built up their rowing program.  After only one year at MIT, Columbia asked for Haines' help.  Their coach, Fred Miller, resigned by mutual agreement before the end of the rowing season and Columbia was in need of a coach to prepare their crews for the Poughkeepsie Regatta.  Haines gladly agreed.  He returned to MIT as coach afterward, but this invitation demonstrates the esteem that the rowing world held him in.

Haines' would also bring the first MIT crews to Poughkeepsie and while they would not win races, they were gladly welcomed back each year and Poughkeepsie built a permanent boathouse for them at "Regatta Row."

Haines retired from MIT in 1937, his name would still be known in the rowing world.  Henry Herbert "Bert" Haines, William's nephew, was coach of the Harvard crews, first of the freshman 1920-1936 and then head coach from 1937-1952.

William Haines would pass away in 1948 after a long illness.

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