Sept. 24, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford Men's Crew head coach Craig Amerkhanian proudly introduced the addition of 2012 U.S. Olympian and 2006 Stanford graduate Jake Cornelius to the crew's staff as assistant coach Monday. Cornelius will serve as the coach for the freshman boats.

Cornelius graduated from Stanford in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. While at Stanford, he led the crew to landmark victories over California and Washington, paving the way for an era of success that included a second-place finish at the IRA Championships in 2007. He continued his engineering education at Cambridge University, and was victorious in the famed Cambridge-Oxford Varsity Boat Race.

Alongside three of his Stanford teammates, Cornelius had the honor of representing the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London this past summer. He competed in the Men's Eight with David Banks '05. The Cardinal duo finished fourth in a heartbreaking race that saw them miss the medal podium by three-tenths of a second. Stanford Men's Crew had the distinction of providing Team USA with more oarsmen than any other university in London.

Cornelius says he has been "energized" by the Olympic experience, and looks forward to bringing "even more intensity and commitment to the Stanford boathouse."

"Stanford Crew has given me so much, and it's an honor to be in a position to give something back," Cornelius said. "I look forward to helping Coach Amerkhanian in his relentless pursuit of victory through integrity. In rowing, as in life, half-measures are insufficient. My goal is to help these young men redefine the term `one-hundred percent' both on the water and in the classroom."