The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Perrone named Rowing assistant coach
07.10.2006 | Rowing
AUSTIN, Texas -- Melissa Perrone has been named women's assistant rowing coach at The University of Texas, as announced by Longhorns rowing head coach Carie Graves.
In February 2006, Perrone had been named an interim assistant coach with the Longhorn rowing team and will now continue on staff as a full-time assistant. She had served as a volunteer coach with the UT program in 2001, again in 2003 and rejoined the program as a volunteer in September of 2004.
"We feel Melissa is an outstanding addition to our program," said UT rowing head coach Carie Graves. "Last season, she was a valued part of our team and proved to be an essential component to our success. Melissa brings a strong desire to coach and will help our program reach new heights."
Perrone was a member of the highly successful and nationally-ranked Northeastern University varsity rowing team from 1996-1999. She was a member of the varsity eight that was one of the top 16 crews to be invited to the first-ever NCAA Championships in 1997. Perrone served as a co-captain of the team during the 1998-99 season and helped guide the team to its second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance and a fourth-place finish. She sat bow seat in the varsity boat, and her boat was voted as the "MVP" of Northeastern's squad in 1997 and 1998.
Perrone served on Northeastern's Student Athletic Advisory Board from 1997-99. She received a Sports in Society grant for participating in the Urban Youth Sports program in 2000 from the nationally-recognized Center for the Study of Sport in Society which is based out of the Northeastern campus. Perrone served as a volunteer coach for field hockey and rowing teams comprised of inner city youths.
In 2000, she worked at The Boston Latin School as the head of the school's rowing program and directed all aspects of the team, including student recruitment and team development.
Before working as an interim assistant coach last season, Perrone most recently worked as an administrative associate in the UT Austin Division of Pharmacy Practice since October of 2004. She provided administrative and technical support for faculty, students and campus residents.