Six new recruits set to join men’s crew

With two departing seniors 2013-14, six new recruits will be joining men’s crew this season.

The recruits include a local coxswain and few from out of state like Rhode Island, Texas and New York, per assistant coach Brian Perkins.

After nearly two months of uncertainty with whether the program would continue, Perkins said much of the recruiting for the 2014-2015 season is still to be done.

“We are going to be doing a lot of our recruiting on campus when the semester starts,” Perkins said.

Although the team is yet to start their season, many rowers are spending their summer with rowing clubs on Boathouse Row.

Coach Gavin White said some of the rowers are logging time with Penn Athletic Club and Fairmount Rowing Association in preparation for the looming season.

White, himself, is also preparing for the upcoming season in a different way.

The longtime men’s crew coach, who underwent his second deep brain stimulator adjustment surgery in May, is now undergoing physical therapy. Although White said it is very demanding, he also said he has noticed some improvements.

“I am doing pretty well,” White said. “I am moving around a little better.”

White, 62, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2002.

His team will not officially meet until the first week of classes, prior to the start-up of training in mid-Sept

Coaches: No severance packages

According to a university official, the nine coaches departing as a result of the recently announced sports cuts were all signed to one-year contracts.

The athletics department is not commenting on financial specifics involved in those deals. Third-year baseball coach Ryan Wheeler said that, to his knowledge, none of the departing staff will receive severance packages. Gavin White, who has been with the university for 34 seasons as head coach for men’s crew, said he will not receive a package. White said he is signed to a one-year deal like the other coaches.

The official said that the exception to the one-year contracts are for the revenue sports at Temple, basketball and football.

Crew coach Gavin White | JACOB COLON TTN

Gavin White has been with the university for 34 years as head crew coach.| JACOB COLON TTN