Harvard Women’s Lightweight Rowing Coach Leaves Midyear

Harvard Radcliffe women’s lightweight rowing head coach Stacey Apfelbaum has stepped down from her position effective immediately, according to a Monday announcement by Harvard Athletics, following discontent within the team over her coaching.

Apfelbaum, who began her second year as head coach this fall, joined the team as an assistant coach in December 2023.

Members of the team had previously intended to report Apfelbaum to Harvard Athletics and had planned to go on strike earlier this year after the Head of the Charles Regatta in protest of Apfelbaum’s coaching, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Crimson was unable to confirm on Thursday night the details of the planned report or whether it was filed.

Harvard Athletics did not respond to a request for comment Thursday evening, and The Crimson was unable to reach Apfelbaum for comment Thursday night.

John Lindberg, who served as assistant coach for the past year, was pulled up by Harvard Athletic Director Erin McDermott to serve as the team’s head coach for the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year.

Lindberg previously served as director of Boston’s Union Boat Club for five years and associate head coach for the Boston University men’s team for a decade.

“A national search for Apfelbaum’s successor will begin later this academic year,” the announcement stated.

Apfelbaum had coached the team through a successful year and a half, including the varsity eight boat placing second at the Eastern Sprints Regatta and taking the gold at October’s Head of the Charles Regatta.

In June, Apfelbaum and her staff were named 2025 Coaching Staff of the Year by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association.

As an assistant coach, Apfelbaum contributed to Harvard’s recruiting efforts and helped with training sessions. She served as a mentor to the team’s coxswains, having been a coxswain herself for the U.S. women’s lightweight eight at the 1984 World Championships, according to the announcement for her appointment to the role.

Apfelbaum had initially assumed leadership of the team after former nine-year head coach Sarah Baker left.

Apfelbaum’s staff page was also removed from the Harvard Athletics website this week.

Before coaching for Harvard, Apfelbaum held several high school and collegiate coaching positions. She previously coached five athletes to Team USA selection, and won gold for Team USA at the 1984 World Rowing Championships.

—Staff writer Elyse C. Goncalves can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @e1ysegoncalves.

—Staff writer Akshaya Ravi can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on X @akshayaravi22.