The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 1 Rowing adds Nicole Borges as assistant coach
04.08.2025 | Rowing
Nicole Borges was announced as an assistant coach for the Texas Rowing program on Tuesday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Nicole Borges has been named an assistant coach for No. 1 Texas Rowing, head coach Dave O'Neill announced Tuesday.
"I'm thrilled that Nicole Borges is finally a part of our staff," O'Neill said. "This has been months in the making, and she is going to be a great deal to our team. It means a lot that she has taken the leap back into collegiate coaching with our program. Nicole has a proven track record of success in every level as an athlete and coach, and in the short time she has been with us, she has already made an impact."
Borges boasts over 20 years of coaching at the collegiate, national and international levels. Most recently, she was the doubles Junior National Team Coach for Canada at the 2024 Junior World Championships. From 2022-2024, she was the Head Coach and Program Director for the Don Rowing Club in Mississauga, Ontario, guiding the program to three gold and three silver medals at the USA Club Nationals, 12 gold and five silver medals at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta and gold in the 2x at the Head of Charles.
Prior to her time with the Canadian Junior National Team and the Don Rowing Club, she served as an assistant coach and a global recruiting lead at her alma mater, the University of Washington from 2008-11, working primarily with the Novice Eight. During her first season, Washington finished as the National Runner-Up, and the I Four claimed an NCAA title. In each of her four seasons on Montlake, Washington placed inside the top-10 nationally. Washington also won Pac-12 titles in the Varsity Four in 2008 and 2010 along with two Novice Eight conference crowns in 2009-10.
From 2004-08, Borges was an assistant coach and national recruiting lead for Wisconsin, working primarily with the Novice crew. Wisconsin advanced to the NCAA Championships in each of her four years in Madison, Wisc. The Novice Eight won two Big Ten Championships and recorded a runner-up finish in her four seasons. She was Wisconsin's Interim Head Coach from 2003-04, leading the Badgers to an NCAA Championship appearance, a third-place team finish at the Central Region Championships and a runner-up finish at the Big Ten Championships.
Before landing the gig at Wisconsin, she was the assistant novice coach for Washington in 2002-03, helping the Huskies I Novice Eight finish third at the Pac-10 Championships.
"I came to Texas for the chance to learn from one of the best coaches in collegiate rowing in Dave O'Neill," Borges said. "This is an opportunity to push myself, grow and be a part of something truly exceptional. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity."
A decorated athlete, Borges was on the Canadian National Rowing Team from 2001-2002 and participated at the World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland, recording a seventh-place finish in the 8+. She won gold at the World University Games in England in the 4-. At the Commonwealth Championships, she won gold with the 8+ and silver with the 4-.
A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Borges rowed at the University of Washington from 1997-2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in English and Communications. During her collegiate career, Borges won two NCAA National Championships in the 4+ (1998) and 8+ (2001) along with four Pac-10 Championships, a Royal British Henley Championship in the Eight and was selected to the All-Pac-10 Team in 2001.
Borges and her husband Charles moved to Austin with their four children, Sophia (15), Charlie (13), Harrison (8) and Freyja (6), along with their dog, Lola.