PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland women's rowing program has added Plamen Petrov, who will serve as an assistant coach with the Pilots during the 2016 spring semester. A head coach and the president of Oregon Rowing Unlimited since 2012, Petrov was a Bulgarian national team member for seven years.
 
"I believe Plamen's systematic approach and experience will make an immediate impact on how we better prepare our athletes for training for a long and successful rowing career that may extend past their collegiate experience to new horizons on the U23 and senior national teams," Portland head coach Pasha Spencer said.
 
A native Bulgarian, Plamen has been involved with rowing since he was eleven years old. He has a master's degree in Sculling, Sweeping, and Physical Fitness Teaching. For twenty years he has been teaching and coaching, using his broad knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and performance as a foundation for his coaching style.
 
Plamen was a Bulgarian National Team member and he won several Bulgarian national titles in sculling and sweeping rowing between 1979 and 1991. He also participated in the Juniors World Championship in 1984 and 1986.
 
Under his guidance, athletes have medaled at regionals and raced at US Junior Nationals. His coaching stops include Reed College, the UP men's club team and Lake Oswego Community Rowing.