Stacey Rippetoe Position: Novice Coach Experience: Eighth Year Email: rippetoe@ath.msu.edu

Stacey Rippetoe returns for her eighth season at Michigan State in 2007-08, now as the novice coach.

Rippetoe earned Central Region Assistant Coach accolades for the first time in 2007. Primarily guiding the Spartan varsity fours, Rippetoe has led her boats to Big Ten Championships in 2004 (second varsity four) and 2005 (varsity four). Last season, Rippetoe directed the varsity four to a third-place finish at the Big Ten Championships and seventh at the South/Central Regional.

Before joining the MSU crew program, Rippetoe spent three years serving as novice coach for the University of Rhode Island women's crew team. At Rhode Island, Rippetoe's duties included recruiting and coaching the beginner rowers, as well as assisting the head coach with the varsity squad.

Rippetoe also gained coaching experience as the associate coach of the Narragansett Boat Club during the summers of 1999 and 2000. She served as head coach of Navesink River Rowing from 1997-1998 as well.

In addition to embracing her role with the MSU varsity squad, one of Rippetoe's most notable accomplishments at MSU is the "We Can Row" program that she launched in Lansing, Mich., in the summer of 2002.

"We Can Row", which is based on the "Row As One" camp in Boston, Mass., teaches breast cancer survivors how to row. The program is also a study to measure the value of exercise in breast cancer survivors. Lansing's chapter of "We Can Row" is home to the Pink Ribbon Crew team, with which MSU's athletes are very involved.

As part of the program, Rippetoe works with the Pink Ribbon Crew to emphasize goals that are centered around self-image enhancement and team support for women who are making the transition from being patients to being survivors. The focus is on developing a strong and healthy body, becoming an active participant in one's recovery from breast cancer, asserting control over one's body, rediscovering the joy of movement and playing a fundamental part in a mutually empowering recovery team.

An Oakhurst, New Jersey native, Rippetoe earned her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Rutgers University in 1997.

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