CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Athletics announced current women's lightweight rowing assistant coach Stacey Apfelbaum as the next David K. Richards '61 Family Head Coach for Radcliffe Lightweight Crew. Apfelbaum initially joined the Harvard-Radcliffe coaching staff in December of 2023. Apfelbaum brings a wealth of experience and expertise as the new head coach of the team.

"It was clear that in a short time, Stacey made a strong impact on the team and played an integral role in their season's success," The John D. Nichols '53 Family Director of Athletics Erin McDermott said. "We are excited to see RVL thrive under Stacey's leadership as head coach. She brings terrific experience and an infectious attitude to our team and department."

During the 2024 spring campaign, Apfelbaum played a key role in the women's lightweight rowing team's success. She contributed to Harvard-Radcliffe's varsity eight's third place finish at the 2024 IRA Championships, the first podium finish for the varsity eight at the IRA National Championships since 2016.  At Eastern Sprints, Apfelbaum guided the team to second-place finishes for the varsity eight and varsity four.

"I am thrilled to take the lead and continue working with this outstanding group of student-athletes.  I am grateful to Sarah Baker who leaves behind a strong program that is well situated for future success, and to Erin McDermott and Andrea Lapointe who have welcomed me so warmly and put their faith in me," Apfelbaum said. "I look forward to an exciting new chapter with Radcliffe Lightweight Rowing."

During her time as an assistant coach, Apfelbaum directed and curated Harvard-Radcliffe's recruiting strategy and vision, bringing a new generation of talent to Cambridge. Apfelbaum also contributed to practice and training sessions, helping student-athletes develop on and off the water, as well as mentoring coxswains.

Prior to her Harvard-Radcliffe tenure, Apfelbaum spent three years at the ARION Elite Athlete Training Center in Saratoga Springs, New York. A residential training center focused on assisting women with aspirations for competing at the international level, Apfelbaum served as an assistant coach for all three years during her time with ARION, as she also held the mantles of U23 Summer Camp Head Coach for 2022 and 2023, and U19 Rowing Camp Director & Head Coach during the summer of 2021.

Apfelbaum mentored five athletes to Team USA selection during her time with ARION, including one Olympian in 2021 and two Olympians in 2024. Five ARION athletes medaled at the 2023 Pan American Games as well. Apfelbaum also contributed to ARION's recruiting efforts.

From 2014-23, Apfelbaum served as the program director and varsity girls coach at Niskayuna High School. Before her appointment at Niskayuna, Apfelbaum was the varsity girls' coach at Shaker High School (2010-14), the head coach for girls' crew at Emma Willard School (1994-2000) and the head coach at Trinity College (1984-89).

As an athlete, Apfelbaum coxed the US women's lightweight eight to a gold medal finish at the World Championships in 1984.  During her tenure with the Pioneer Valley Rowing Association, she won numerous US Rowing national titles, as well as several Head of the Charles races and the Canadian Henley.  She returned to racing in 2022 and won both US Nationals and Canadian Henley with ARION.