Ralph Hunn

Wisconsin Freshman Crew Coach 1934

Wisconsin's Crew Coach 1935-1940

Hunn began his coaching career while he was the varsity coxswain at the University of Wisconsin.  He coached the freshman crew under Coach George "Mike" Murphy.  When Murphy resigned in the summer of 1934, Hunn was offered the position of head coach and he took it, declining the position of varsity captain.

In his first few years, the Wisconsin crews skipped the Poughkeepsie Regatta and instead had races with boat clubs and attended other competitions.  They won the boat club races with ease.

Hunn's leadership increased interest in the crew program on campus and led to the creation of a men's lightweight crew.

Wisconsin's crew would return to Poughkeepsie in 1937 and compete there for the next several years, but without very impressive results.

In April 1940, Hunn was released by University of Wisconsin's athletic director.  Hunn appealed the decision and accompanied the crew to Poughkeepsie.  Wisconsin's varsity finished 2nd to last and despite later appeals to remain, Hunn was not reinstated as coach.

Sources about Hunn:

Wisconsin Where They Row: A History of Varsity Rowing at the University of Wisconsin by Bradley F. Taylor

Image Gallery