Kevin Gruber - Assistant Rowing Coach

Kevin Gruber is in his first year an assistant women’s rowing coach at the University of Connecticut after serving in the same position at Southern Methodist University for the past four years.

Gruber assists with the returning rowers and the experienced incoming freshman.

Gruber was the primary coach for the freshman and novice boats at SMU and had various other responsibilities in the program. He served as the head coach of men’s and women’s rowing at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) from 2002-04. At Charleston, he also was a games management coordinator and served as the school’s sports information director. He served as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia during the 2001-02 academic year.

Gruber is a 2000 graduate of Massachusetts-Amherst and was a four-year member of the men’s crew club team. He earned his undergraduate degree in sport management and journalism. Gruber earned a master’s degree from West Virginia in athletic coaching education.

Allyson Zoppa - Assistant Rowing Coach

Former UConn rower and 2008 graduate Allyson Zoppa is in her first year as a member of the Husky coaching staff.

Zoppa works primarily with the walk-on rowers and was a four year member of the UConn team. As a sophomore, she stroked UConn’s lightweights to a silver medal in the second varsity four at BIG EAST Championship. A native of East Hartford, Conn., she earned her degree in human development and family studies with minors in English and psychology.

She has coached rowers of all ages the past four years through the Riverfront Recapture Program in Hartford.