EMU Women’s Rowing welcomes two new coaches ahead of the 2021/22 season

Over the summer, the Eastern Michigan University rowing team hired two new coaches, Delaney McGuire and Annie Cantu, to assist head coach Kemp Savage during the 2021-22 season.

McGuire was a research assistant on Head Coach Savage’s rowing team at EMU from 2016 to 2018. During her master’s degree in sports management, McGuire was promoted to assistant trainer in the 2018/19 season. Following the season, McGuire moved to her alma mater, the coaching staff at Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) in Philadelphia, PA in 2019-20. While at SJU, McGuire was a four-year 2012-16 letter winner, a team captain, and received 10 All-Conference First Team Awards from Atlantic.

McGuire is excited about the 2021-22 rowing season as the new assistant varsity coach for the Eastern Michigan Eagle.

“I want to continue building our recruiting profile and make EMU a top choice for athletes leaving high school,” said McGuire.

“I hope I can help create an environment where athletes can feel safe to challenge themselves, set higher goals, and pursue them without fear of what might happen if they fail “Said McGuire. “I want to help them see more of themselves and I think if we can do that we will do great things this year.”

Prior to her appointment as the new beginner’s coach for EMU Women’s Rowing, Annie Cantu was a four-year letter winner at Michigan State University. Cantu graduated in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor subjects in human behavior and social sciences. Cantu has rowed the 1V8 with the Spartans for the past three seasons. Upon graduation, Cantu spent a year as an assistant coach at the Dallas Rowing Club in Dallas, TX.

Cantu is excited about the opportunity to challenge himself and the EMU athletes under Head Coach Kemp Savage at Eastern Michigan University.

“As a rowing coach at any level, I will always strive to encourage and challenge my athletes to be not only the best athletes they can be, but the best people they can be outside of rowing,” said Cantu.

The EMU Women’s Rowing Team and the updated coaching team are preparing for a matchup against Michigan State University on the Grand River on Saturday, October 16.