Krystina Sarff - Assistant Coach - Rowing Coaches

Krystina Sarff

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
ksarff@ou.edu

Sarff, who will serve as varsity assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, brings almost 10 years of collegiate coaching experience to Oklahoma.

“Krystina is one of the most competitive athletes I’ve ever coached,” Crain said. “She’s carried that competitive spirit into her coaching and her team’s results demonstrate her talent for getting the most out of the athletes she coaches, while providing a positive student-athlete experience. She understands what it takes to compete at the highest level and will be a great mentor and role model for our athletes.”

At Sarff’s most recent stop, she spent four years as the University of Michigan’s head novice coach. The Valrico, Fla., native led the Wolverines’ 1N8 to a Big Ten title in 2017. In addition to her coaching role, she played a key role in the recruitment of out-of-sport and rowing athletes.

During the 2013-14 season, Sarff helped the University of San Diego to one of its most successful seasons as an assistant varsity coach. She guided the program to the 2014 West Coast Conference Rowing championship and its first ever NCAA Championships bid.

Prior to her time at USD, Sarff oversaw the University of Florida’s club novice program. She led the team to the No. 1 spot in the ACRA national rankings in April 2013 and led the Gators’ WN8 to first place at the 2013 SIRA Regional Championships and the 2013 SIRA State Championships.

As an athlete at the University of Central Florida, Sarff was a three-time All-American under then-Knights head coach Crain. She rowed with the 1V8, powering UCF to its first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

Sarff earned her PhD in health and human performance from Florida in 2015. She also received her master’s degree in rhetoric and composition in 2009 and her bachelor’s in English, education and Spanish in 2007 from UCF.

"I am thrilled to join the Oklahoma rowing staff and am truly grateful to the university and head coach Leanne Crain for the incredible opportunity to be a part of the Sooner family," Sarff said. "As a former rower under coach Crain, I know the high level of excellence, passion and excitement she brings to the teams and athletes she coaches. I am also really looking forward to working with the other coaches on staff; Assistant coach Guillermo Lemus and I have coached together previously and he brings so much enthusiasm for the sport. I cannot wait to meet the team and start the season."