When Brian Doyle took over the head-coaching job of the Dartmouth sailing team in 1993, the program had 25 athletes and competed in about 55 regattas a year. In the year 2000, the program consisted of 46 athletes, a varsity, JV and freshman squad and competed in over 100 regattas.
Oh yeah, and he won a national title with his women's team. He must be doing something right, and whatever it is, somebody likes it.
Right now that somebody is the U.S. Olympic Sailing Committee, who just appointed Doyle as Youth Development Sailing Coach.
In this new position, Doyle's job is to travel around the country conducting clinics to bring the best young sailors together to compete against each other and learn the next level of sailing.
"Right now there are three Olympic coaches, and I'm the fourth," Doyle said of his new position. "I'm here to create the intermediary step between youth sailing and the international scene."
The United States has won more Olympic sailing medals than any other nation, and at the 1996 Olympics they did the same in Savannah, Ga. So why does the American team need more coaching?
"They want me to sort of ensure that this winning streak is continued for years to come," Doyle said. "Plus, 90 percent of top sailors attend college, and this is a good way for me to recruit and develop the type of college sailor that will succeed."
Doyle brings years of sailing experience to the table as a former member of the U.S. sailing team and a candidate for the Olympics. A captain of Brown's sailing team in 1991-1992, he was an honorable mention All-American of the Intercollegiate Yacht Racing Association Team. Doyle brings more to the table than just being a talented sailor.
"[Doyle] is fantastic because he cares so much about every member of the team. Our team is so deep it is comforting to know that he has everybody's best interests at heart," sailor Cindy Keppel '02 said.
"He is possibly the most encouraging individual that I have ever met. His favorite motivational phrase is, 'Who is better than us? Nobody!'"
"He has an ability to make you feel like you can do anything," teammate Jen Morgan '02 said. "And because of this you often can."
