Yasmin Farooq

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Yasmin Farooq
Personal information
BornNovember 25, 1965 (1965-11-25) (age 59)
Golden Valley, Minnesota, U.S.
Occupation(s)Head coach of University of Washington women's rowing team, Olympic coxswain
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
World Rowing Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1995 Tampere W8+
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1990 Tasmania W8+
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1993 Račice W8+
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1994 Indianapolis W8+


Yasmin Farooq (born November 25, 1965) is an American rowing coach, Olympic coxswain, and one of the most decorated leaders in collegiate rowing. She is the head coach of the University of Washington women's rowing team, the only program in NCAA history to sweep all three grand finals at the national championship—and under Farooq’s leadership, they have done it twice. Since her arrival in 2016, Washington has finished in the top five nationally every year and produced a growing roster of Olympians and international medalists.

Contents

Farooq is widely recognized not only for her championship pedigree but also for her mentorship, innovation, and commitment to academic excellence.

Early career

Farooq began rowing at the University of Wisconsin, joining as a walk-on coxswain in 1984. She coxed the junior varsity eight to a national title in 1986 and was named team captain and MVP her senior year. She earned a journalism degree and received the Distinguished Service Award from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2024.

She represented the United States for eight years as coxswain of the U.S. women's eight, earning silver medals at the World Rowing Championships in 1990, 1993, and 1994, and leading the crew to a historic gold medal in 1995—the first-ever World Championship title for a U.S. women’s eight. Farooq competed in two Olympic Games: Barcelona 1992 (6th place) and Atlanta 1996 (4th place).

Coaching career

Stanford University (2006–2016)

Farooq led Stanford University to its first NCAA Team Championship in 2009, with the varsity eight setting an NCAA record of 6:11.95. Her crews earned seven NCAA medals and won the program’s first Pac-12 title in 2014.

Stanford NCAA Grand Final Medals

University of Washington (2016–present)

Farooq’s first season at Washington resulted in a historic sweep of all three NCAA grand finals. She repeated the sweep in 2019. From 2017 to 2025, Washington finished in the top five nationally every year and earned team podium finishes in seven of eight NCAA Championships (excluding 2020, which was canceled).

In 2019, Farooq led Washington to its second NCAA sweep, winning all three grand finals. All three lineups—the Varsity Eight, Second Varsity Eight, and Varsity Four—set NCAA records in their respective events, marking one of the most dominant performances in collegiate rowing history.

In 2021, Washington won the Varsity Four and Second Varsity Eight, tying with Texas and Stanford for the team title. The tie was broken by the Varsity Eight result, placing UW third overall.

In 2025, Washington joined the Big Ten Conference and swept all seven grand finals at the Big Ten Championship Regatta, earning the university’s first-ever Big Ten title in any sport.

Washington NCAA Grand Final Medals

Olympians coached

Farooq has coached twelve NCAA student-athletes who competed at the Olympic Games:

Washington rowers coached by Farooq who became Olympians include:

She also coached Dani Hansen, two-time Paralympic silver medalist and the most decorated U.S. Paralympic rower.

Stanford rowers coached by Farooq who became Olympians include:

At the 2024 Summer Olympics, seven UW alumnae competed, with three earning bronze medals:

Honors

Farooq was inducted into the National Rowing Hall of Fame in 2014 and will be inducted again in 2025 alongside her 1995 World Champion teammates. She was also inducted into the Wisconsin Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

She has received:

In 2017, Farooq received the Ernestine Bayer Woman of the Year Award from USRowing, honoring her contributions to the sport and her leadership as a trailblazer for women in rowing.

In 2023, the Head of the Charles Regatta dedicated the Yaz Farooq Trophy, awarded annually to the winner of the Women’s Collegiate Eights, in recognition of her lifelong commitment to the sport.

Farooq’s legacy was also featured in a USRowing tribute during Women’s History Month, highlighting her journey from Olympic coxswain to one of the most influential coaches in collegiate rowing.

Academic honors

Under Farooq’s leadership, Washington rowers have earned:

Broadcasting

Farooq has served as a rowing commentator for NBC Sports, covering four Olympic Games: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, and London 2012.

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