SI Announces Jen Hayden as Women’s Varsity Rowing Coach
The St. Ignatius Athletic Department is excited to announce Jennifer Hayden as the new head varsity women’s coach for the St. Ignatius Rowing Program. Jennifer’s coaching resume is filled with highlights, including 8-years at St. Ignatius from 1994-2001 and Stanford University for three years with their lightweight program. During her coaching tenure, the St. Ignatius women’s team flourished. The Wildcats outworked and out stroked the competition to capture multiple SW/State junior titles for all women’s eights. The Lightweight Eight were undefeated four-time state champions. The Varsity Eight won three state titles and twice finished with bronze medals at the National Championships in Ohio, earning SI Women the honor of the fastest high school team in the country two years in a row.
Athletes from her program went onto thrive at Cal, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Brown, Virginia, and Washington, to name but a few. Jennifer states, “I have every intention of drawing on the strength of those successful alumnae women again to hone yet another generation of elite SI women athletes.”
The SI crew program went on to name one of SI’s boats, the Jen Hayden. An honor she has always cherished.
Jen stepped away from coaching while raising her family and established Jen Hayden Interior Design. Her husband, Billy Ryan, a general contractor and avid rower, has volunteered to assist with S.I. boats and the Lake Merced Boathouse. Jen and Billy, and their three sons, Liam, Owen, and Declan, live in Burlingame.
When the opportunity to return presented itself, Jennifer said she felt called to come back and apply. Her Division 1 experience at Stanford University, seasoned perspective, and relentless passion for the sport fuels her ability to develop exceptional athletes and unite extraordinary teams. Both Head Men’s Coach Sam Nelsen, who assisted with the interviews, and Athletic Director, John Mulkerrins, were very impressed throughout the interview process.
Jennifer will be hosting a returning rower’s meeting this Wednesday, 8/25, at 2:15 PM in the Wiegand Theatre. Off-season training and development will begin shortly, starting with boat rigging and maintenance at the Lake Merced Boathouse on Saturday, 8/28 at 9:00 AM. A more detailed training and development plan will follow after this weekend.