Will Ruth: BS, MA, NSCA-CSCS
About
I started this website in 2015 to help rowers of all ages, types, and levels row stronger, faster, healthier, and for longer.
I rowed in high school at Olympia Area Rowing, a small club at the time rowing team boats when we had the numbers for it, as well as sculling and rowing small boats. I went to college at Western Washington University and thought I was leaving rowing behind while I started playing lacrosse and competing in strength sports. I studied Kinesiology and ended up coming back to rowing as the strength coach for the men’s team after a year-long internship with the varsity track and field team. I continued coaching after I graduated, as strength coach and on-water assistant from 2013-2019.
In early 2019, I completed the University of Denver online MA in Sport Coaching program and moved to Vermont. I began guest coaching in the Craftsbury Outdoor Center’s summer sculling camps that year. I moved into a management role in late 2021 as the sculling camp coordinator, helping run the year-round logistics of the sculling camp program.
In late 2022, I became the strength coach for the Craftsbury Green Racing Project program (GRP) four sports of rowing, Nordic skiing, biathlon, and running. The GRP is supported by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center non-profit foundation to achieve post-collegiate high-performance sport training and national/international-level competition with a commitment to environmental sustainability.
I do most of my writing these days via my free email list on Substack. You can check out the archives and join here for more content updates (new articles, videos, etc.), training tips, and notes from my coaching and learning.
Education and Certifications
Master of Arts
Sport Coaching
2016-2019
Bachelor of Science
Kinesiology, emphasis sport psychology
2010-2014
National Strength & Conditioning Association
Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
US Rowing
Level 2 (2016)
USA Weightlifting
Level 1 Sports Performance Coach (2013-2015)
Published Work
Rowing Stronger: Strength Training to Maximize Rowing Performance (Second Edition, 2019)
Free Preview: Available in print and e-book (PDF)
“NSCA Coach” Magazine
Part 1: Reducing Injuries
Part 2: Improving Performance
Part 3: Energy System Development
Webinars and Conferences
In-person and virtual presentations at the Joy of Sculling Conference, numerous USRowing events, the Craftsbury 2020 Webinar Series, and more. Many of these are available for replay via this Youtube playlist.
Science of Rowing
Co-founder with Blake Gourley and Joe DeLeo, contributor until 2022
Strength Coach Roundtable Podcast
With Blake Gourley and Joe DeLeo: 18 episodes from 2016-2020 on the Rowing Chat Network
PS: All the hand-drawn artwork on my website and in my book is by my Olympia Area Rowing high school double partner Eamon Smith (stroke).
