Alabama Rowing Welcomes Katie Bitz as Assistant Coach
7/28/2022 11:27:00 AM | Rowing
Bitz spent the last three seasons with Indiana University
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama head rowing coach Glenn Putyrae announced the addition of Katie Bitz to his coaching staff this week.
Bitz arrives in Tuscaloosa after three seasons at Indiana University, overseeing the Hoosiers' Novice program for two years before moving to Varsity in 2021. Her Novice 8+ crew earned bronze at the 2019 Big Ten Championships while her Varsity 4+ and Third Varsity 4+ crews later earned top-four conference finishes. She recruited and developed 12 of the 20 athletes competing in Indiana's NCAA boats and helped bring in the two largest freshmen recruiting classes in program history through her Homegrown Hoosier recruiting campaign.
Prior to Indiana, Bitz oversaw all aspects of the novice program at her alma mater Michigan State from 2012-2018, mentoring a number of crews that medaled at the Big 10 Championships. She previously assisted with the US National Team (2010-12), Princeton University's women's lightweight crew (2010-11) and the Mercer Junior Rowing Club (2009-10, 2011-12).
Bitz was a coxswain at Michigan State from 2004-08, earning a pair of Big 10 Championships. In 2008, her First Varisty 8+ crew won gold at Big 10s and went on to finish sixth nationally at NCAAs. She attended the USRowing Women's U-23 National Team Selection Camp in 2008 and coxed with the US National Team in 2009 and 2010.
Katie Bitz
Coaching
- Indiana University (2018-21)
- Michigan State University (2012-18)
- US National Team (2010-12)
- Princeton University (2010-11)
- Mercer Junior Rowing Club (2009-10, 2011-12)
Coxing
- US National Team (2009-10)
- Michigan State (2004-08)
For the latest information on the team, follow @AlabamaRow on Twitter and Instagram and Alabama Rowing on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
