Wisconsin Rigger Payne Moves On
September 14, 2004 | Lightweight Rowing
Longtime Wisconsin boatman Roger Payne has left the Wisconsin rowing programs and has accepted a similar position at the University of Virginia. Payne was responsible for rigging boats for the UW. He also maintained and repaired shells and training equipment, and assisted with the transportation of equipment on trips.
Payne came to Wisconsin in 1993 from Oregon State where he was the head women's rowing coach. A 1976 graduate of the University of Washington, Payne rowed lightweight for the Huskies and became a four-time Canadian Henley Lightweight doubles champion. He also worked for Pocock Racing Shells and Owen Racing Shells, and continues to be an active oarsman competing in master's events.
The Wisconsin rowing program has evolved greatly since Payne 's arrival in 1993. Since coming to UW the number of rowers has nearly doubled and the Badgers have added a women's lightweight program. A new crew house, scheduled for completion late this fall also marks a benchmark in Wisconsin's rowing history.
At Virginia, Payne will be the boatman responsible for the women's crew program and do the same as he did at UW. Payne is familiar with the south after growing up and attending high school in Georgia. His parents also currently reside in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia, so he will closer to his family.
'If this hadn't come up I would have stayed here until my kids were done with school," said Payne. "But this is an opportunity that I felt that I couldn't pass up because it is in my next stage of life, it's where I've wanted to be, where my wife would be happy, and closer to my family. '
Head Men's rowing coach Chris Clark adds, 'Roger is going to be sorely missed in that he is technically adept at the rigging and repair of our shells. At the same time, he loved the sport of rowing. Apart from having a daughter on the women's team (Eva) and a son on the men's team (Collin), he has retained that eager, freshman-like devotion to the sport.'
'We'll miss him greatly. In the meantime we are doing a national search. Even though we can't replace Roger, we're certainly going to find somebody who hopefully is as knowledgeable as Roger and continue the tradition that we have here."
Payne also noted, 'I love all the coaches here and I have worked with most of the athletes in the summer, so it's hard to leave those connections, but where I'm going the people I'll work with are just as nice and there's a lot of exciting things there as well.'
