UC San Diego Crew Camps
Coaching Staff
Colin Truex is in his third year as novice men’s crew coach for UC San Diego in 2009-10.
Under Truex's leadership, the novice team put together an impressive 2008-09 campign. After going undefeated at the Pac-10 Challenge, the Tritons pulled out a petite final victory at the San Diego Crew Classic, passing Michigan in the final seconds of the race. The UCSD novice squad earned an invitation to the IRA National Championships and didn't disappoint, defeating George Washington to finish 17th in the nation.
In his first season at UCSD in 2007-08, Truex coached the first novice to a third-place finish at the WIRA Conference Championships and a 7th-place finish at the ECAC National Invitational in Worcester, Mass. Truex’s second novice eight earned second-place finishes at WIRA and the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic as well as a first-place finish at the Newport Invitational.
Truex, born and raised in Wethersfield, Conn., began his rowing career as a freshman at Colby College, a small private school located in Waterville, Maine. Over the course of his four year career, Truex spent one year in a champion novice eight and three years in the top varsity eight. His varsity eight won medals at the New England Championships, Head of the Charles and New Hampshire Championships. Truex was also a two-time grand finalist at the ECAC Championships and stroked a silver medal-winning open four at the IRA national championships. Truex’s rowing experience expanded internationally when he competed for the University College London while studying abroad his junior year. His rowing career culminated with a trip to the Henley Royal Regatta in Henley, England where his eight competed in the Temple Cup.
Upon graduation in the spring of 2000, Truex took over as the men’s novice coach for the Ohio State Crew Club. In his two years at Ohio State, the novice men’s team raced three competitive eights in the spring and experienced much success winning medals at the SIRA, MACRA, and Big Ten Championships.
From 2002 to 2007 Truex was the first assistant coach for the San Diego State women’s rowing team. Truex’s main responsibilities included developing and coaching the walk-on novice team. Over those five years his top novice boats won first-place honors at the Newport Autumn Rowing Festival, San Diego Fall Classic, the Parker Cup, the San Diego City Championships, and the WIRA Championships. His top novice eights also earned second-place finishes at the Miller Cup and a fourth place finish at the prestigious San Diego Crew Classic.
In addition to coaching the novice team Truex also coached the lightweight eight (2003-05), the varsity four (2006) and the JV eight (2006). In two years with Truex the lightweight won back-to-back WIRA Championships and was ranked as high as sixth in the national lightweight rankings. Truex coached the varsity four to a bronze medal finish and the JV eight to a gold medal at the 2006 WIRA Championships. The JV eight went undefeated against WIRA conference opponents during the 2006 season.
On top of his coaching responsibilities with the Aztecs Truex also served as the recruiting coordinator and his efforts led to the signing of over 60 high school athletes during his five years.
In Dec. 2007 Truex earned a Masters in Business Administration with a specialization in Management from SDSU. In the business program Truex met his future wife and former Loyola Marymount rower Jenny Griffin. They were married in June 2008 on Mission Bay and live together in North Park with their lazy dog Sammie.
Tashina Vavuris is in her 1st Year as Assistant Coach.
Julia White-Hoppe is in her first year as novice women's crew coach for UC San Diego in 2009-10. In addition to coaching the novice squad, White-Hoppe assists with the varsity, handle recruiting duties, and oversee regatta preparation and management.
White-Hoppe comes to UCSD after serving as volunteer coach with the Oregon State women's rowing team during the 2008-09 season. Prior to that, White-Hoppe coached The Hun School of Princeton varsity girl's rowing team in 2008 and the novice boy's rowing squad from 2005 to 2007.
A four-year varsity athlete at Oregon State, White-Hoppe was a two-time first team NCAA All-American and served as team captain during her junior and senior seasons. After training with the U.S. National Rowing Team from 2002-04, White-Hoppe became a full-time elite rower with the National squad following her collegiate career.
A native of Medford, Ore., White-Hoppe graduated from OSU in 2004 with a degree in Art History. She also earned Oregon State's Benny Award in 2004 for her athletic achievements and served as a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee from 2001 to 2004.
Jack Vallerga has been with the UCSD rowing program for 35 seasons, including being the head coach from 1974-1999. Vallerga began his tenure as a member of the Triton coaching staff in 1974, and he coached both the men's and women's teams. By the 1980 season, the men's and women's teams had grown to the point that it was decided to create separate coaching positions for the teams. At that point, Vallerga decided to continue as the women's coach.
As head coach, Vallerga developed the rowing program into one of the most successful in the West. In his final year as head coach, 1999, he was named WIRA Coach of the Year.
Vallerga is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara, where he competed as a coxswain between 1967 and 1971. He earned his secondary teaching credential at San Diego State in 1974, and has been a teacher with the San Diego City Schools since that time.
