Chris Lalande, who had been a longtime volunteer coach with UW rowing, began her tenure as an assistant coach with the Wisconsin women's openweight program in 2025.
Lalande served as a volunteer assistant coach with UW rowing since 2005, beginning with the openweights through the 2012-13 season, when she transitioned to work with the lightweights. In her role as a volunteer coach, she coached the technique and performance of student-athletes, helping them develop rowing skills and refine their mental approach to the sport.
During her time at Wisconsin, Lalande has helped coach the Badgers to a Big Ten team championship in 2010, as well as 15 NCAA rowing championship appearances from 2005 to 2019, including five top-10 finishes.
Before joining the Badgers, Lalande served as a volunteer coach with the University of Michigan men's and women's rowing teams from 2003-05 and helped the program to a Big Ten championship in 2004. She previously served as men's rowing head coach at the Lincoln Park Boat Club from 1997-2003.
Lalande competed as a coxswain for the women's rowing team at the University of Pennsylvania from 1993-97. She earned bachelor degrees in computer science and psychology at Penn.
Outside of rowing, Lalande has professional experience in leadership and technology, working in various software engineering and IT roles at UW-Madison and beyond.
