The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Rowing adds Payten Kooyers as assistant coach
09.04.2026 | Rowing
Former Longhorn Payten Kooyers returns to the Forty Acres as an assistant coach.
AUSTIN, Texas – Former Longhorn rower Payten Kooyers has been named an assistant coach for Texas Rowing, head coach Dave O'Neill announced Friday.
"I'm thrilled that Payten Kooyers has returned to the program, and even better that it's to join our coaching staff," said O'Neill. "Payten made a huge impact and was part of some monumental moments as an athlete, and her enthusiasm, knowledge, and experience will make us better for years to come. It means a lot that she is back with us, and I know it means a ton to her, as well."
Kooyers joins the 2026 NCAA National Champion Texas Rowing program after spending the 2024-25 and 2026-26 seasons as an assistant coach at North Carolina. Kooyers helped the Tar Heels advance three boats to Grand Finals at the 2026 ACC Championships. North Carolina concluded the event with a sixth-place finish and finished the season with a No. 23 national ranking. The 2025 North Carolina team also finished sixth at the ACC Championships. Three boats advanced to Grand Finals, and Carolina finished the season with a No. 23 final ranking.
As a student-athlete at Texas, she was part of the Longhorns' NCAA title teams in 2021 and 2022, and the Longhorns won Big 12 Championships in each of her four years competing on the Forty Acres (2019, 2021-23).
Kooyers has coached junior athletes in both rowing skills and strength and conditioning as part of the Austin Rowing Club. She also completed an internship with the Texas Athletic Performance team, focusing on the training of softball, soccer, tennis and swimming.
Kooyers earned a bachelor's in kinesiology with specialization in strength and conditioning coaching from Texas in May of 2022 and completed her master's in sport management in May of 2024.
