Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends of Cornell Sailing,

Monday May 10^th will be a historical day for the Cornell Sailing Team that we have not seen in over 25 years. 

Tomorrow Friends of Cornell Sailing (FOCS) will be posting a job description for hiring a Head Sailing Coach for the Cornell Sailing Team. 

Since the founding of the organization almost exactly 10 years ago, hiring a full time coach to provide continuity has been the primary goal of the organization. Along the way we have been fortunate to have the generous support of the Merrill Family in building the Merrill Family Sailing Center.  Today we have one of the best facilities in college sailing and soon we hope to attract a top notch coach with experience in both national level intercollegiate coaching and in program development.

The Board of Directors of FOCS and the Coach Campaign Committee have been meeting/teleconferencing bi-weekly for almost 3 years to get the necessary funding in place, and have reached agreement with Cornell University on the terms for hiring a coach.  The Head Sailing Coach will be an employee of Friends of Cornell Sailing.  The Cornell Sailing team will remain a coached club sport and independent organization.

Let me share with you the process and how you as alumni may get involved.  We have appointed a Coach Search Committee made up of the following individuals:

Doug Merrill ’89, Chairman
Ted Moore ‘71
Prof. Charles Williamson, Team Advisor
Andrew Davis ‘02
Scott Grandt ‘08

We have a combination of dedicated alumni, who have dedicated not only their resources, but most importantly their time to directly support the team.  Each member’s support is unwavering from hours of conf calls to helping run regattas at Cornell.  Doug Merrill ’89 is an avid Laser and big boat sailor, and has spent countless hours through both the sailing center project and now for three years on the coach campaign.  Ted Moore ’71 is an avid team racer representing New York Yacht Club, one of the founders of our coach campaign, and a regular face judging at Cornell.  Prof Charles Williamson, the team’s advisor needs no introduction, as his involvement has been steadfast for 11 years now.  Andrew Davis ‘02 is the President of Friends of Cornell Sailing and has been a fixture of the organization since its founding. Recent graduate Scott Grandt ’08 was selected to represent the team members and young alumni.  Scott was President of both MAISA and ICSA, and the primary organizer of this year’s alumni regatta, where he facilitated a constructive discussion with the team on what makes a good coach.

The first phase of the search process starts on Monday, May 10th with a posting of a job description and ends with applications due June 7^th.  During this time period, I encourage alumni, parents, friends and team members who have ideas on candidates, recommendations on characteristics of a good coach to share their input with the committee by emailing coach-input@cornellsailing.org.

Following June 7^th we will be interviewing candidates, ideally bringing someone on board between July 15^th and August 15^th for the Fall 2010 season. 

We have many challenges ahead in this process, but with the continued support of our alumni base, and the team of volunteers we have assembled, I believe we will be successful.  One last word, If you have made a pledge or are considering a gift to support our coach campaign, please follow through using the instructions here www.cornellsailing.org/makeagift 

See you all on the water,

Andrew E. Davis ‘02
President
Friends of Cornell Sailing

On behalf of the Board of Directors of FOCS and Coach Campaign Committee:

Robert Swanson ‘74, Chairman
Doug Merrill ‘89
Ted Moore ‘71
Prof. Charles Williamson
Andrew Davis ‘02