VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova Rowing head coach Carissa Adams has announced the addition of two assistant coaches to her staff ahead of the 2023-24 season. Kevin Gruber comes to Villanova after serving as the head women's coach at Delaware for the last 11 seasons. Susanna Bruce joins the coaching ranks after finishing her rowing career at the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
 
Gruber brings an extensive coaching resume to the Main Line that has spanned the last two decades. While with the Blue Hens, he led the program to a trio of third-place showings at the CAA Championships and four fourth-place finishes. At the helm of the program, he coaches 17 All-CAA selections, four CAA All-Academic team selections, two CRCA All-Region selections and 68 CRCA Scholar-Athletes.
 
Before Delaware, Gruber spent four seasons with the University of Connecticut in various roles that ranged from assistant coach to associate head coach. Prior to his time in Storrs, he served in an assistant coach capacity for numerous programs for nearly a decade. Stops along the way included Southern Methodist, University of Charleston (W. Va.) and Bates College.
 
A Class of 2000 graduate from UMass, Gruber was a four-year member of the men's crew club team and earned his undergraduate degree as a double major in sport management and journalism. He earned a master's degree from West Virginia in athletic coaching.
 
"I am very excited and honored to have Kevin join our coaching staff," Adams said. "His extensive experience is going to round out our staff perfectly and enhance our overall student-athlete experience. Kevin's knowledge and support are going to be instrumental in our efforts to up-level our program."
 
Bruce comes to Villanova fresh off a successful four-year rowing career at Wisconsin where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in Data Science, Computer Science and Environmental Studies. Her career started with a bang as she was named the team's Most Valuable Freshman in 2020. She went on to row with the 1V8 for three years, eventually becoming a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023. The Badgers finished as high as fourth at the Big Ten Championships during her career and made an appearance at the 2021 NCAA Rowing Championships where they finished 14^th.
 
Aside from being a collegiate rower, the Oxford, Md. native has also gained previous experience on the coaching side by working with numerous camps and clubs. Most recently, Bruce taught Learn to Row at Freedom Rowers Club in Easton, Md. during the summer and winter seasons from 2021-22 while also providing guidance on rowing and sculling lessons.
 
"It has been a pleasure getting to know Susanna during the interview process," Adams said. "I am confident that her experience as a D1 student-athlete from a nationally ranked program will be very motivating for our rowers."