Contact:
Ed Levin
Publicity Director
610-246-5902
levins51@verizon.net
Drexel Director of Rowing and women’s head coach Paul Savell has been selected as the Kate Godwin Award recipient as the 2026 Jefferson Dad Vail Regatta Coach of the Year. The Kate Godwin Award is presented annually to a Dad Vail coach who has a distinguished record of accomplishment and who personifies character traits worthy of emulation in a quest to encourage student athletes to uphold the highest traditions and practices.
Now in his 19th season with the program, Savell has led the Dragons to national success at some of the most prestigious regattas in collegiate rowing, including the IRA National Championships, Henley Royal Regatta, Henley Women’s Regatta and Dad Vail Regatta.
Under Savell’s leadership, the Dragons have captured ten overall team titles at the Dad Vail Regatta, including Drexel’s first-ever championship in 2013. The men’s team has claimed eight titles, while the women secured back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. Most recently, Drexel has won the men’s title in four consecutive seasons, with both programs contributing to back-to-back overall titles in 2024 and 2025.
Since taking over in 2007, Savell has led Drexel to remarkable success at the Dad Vail Regatta, with the Dragons capturing 55 gold medals on the men’s side and 35 on the women’s side. Overall, Savell has coached Drexel crews to 90 of the program’s 111 all-time Dad Vail medals, including all but one in women’s program history. The men’s Varsity 8+ has captured gold at the Regatta five times, including three straight from 2022-24, while the women have claimed the top spot four times, including back-to-back gold medals in 2024 and 2025.
Additionally, Savell was named the 2019 CAA Coach of the Year following the women’s two gold medal performances at the conference championships. In 2025, the Dragons captured gold at the CAA Championships for the first time since 2022, with the Varsity 4+ handing Northeastern its first loss in any CAA Championship race since the 2022 season.
