Harvard University

 
John Lindberg is in his second season with the Harvard-Radcliffe program in 2025-26, and was named the Interim David K. Richards '61 Family Head Coach for Radcliffe Lightweight Crew in Dec. 2025.

Lindberg joined the team in 2024-25, helping lead the team to its best national finish in recent memory, earning a silver medal in the varsity eight and a bronze medal in the varsity four at IRA Championships. He was part of the staff that earned CRCA Coaching Staff of the Year in 2025.

John began his professional career as a secondary school educator, multi-sport coach and administrator for 18 years.  Prior to joining Radcliffe, John served as the Director of Rowing for the Union Boat Club in Boston for 5 years. Prior to Union, John served as the associate head men’s coach at Boston University for 10 years alongside head coach Thomas Bohrer and helped guide the Terriers to sustained national success.

At BU, Lindberg’s crews consistently advanced to IRA Championship finals. In 2017–18, the program reached the IRA semifinals in all four boats for the fifth straight year, sent the 3V8 and V4 to the grand finals, and placed eighth nationally in Ten Eyck points. The 2016–17 squad finished sixth at IRAs, and during that dual season BU defeated Brown to secure the Michalson Cup, completing a sweep of all six of their annual cup races for the first time in school history. The Terriers also topped Northeastern by open water to win the Arlett Cup for the third year in a row.

Earlier highlights included the program’s first IRA medal in eights rowing when the second varsity eight earned bronze in 2015, followed by silver at Eastern Sprints that same year. The 2V also won bronze at Sprints in 2016, marking back-to-back podium finishes. Between 2010 and 2014, BU steadily rose in national standing, with the freshmen going undefeated in dual racing in 2010, the varsity earning top-six IRA finishes in 2011 and 2012, and the team capturing the 2014 Chapman Award for most improved program after a 51-point jump in IRA scoring.

Before his tenure at BU, Lindberg coached at Northeastern, where he led recruiting and the freshman squad to multiple medal-winning seasons. He also served as a U.S. coach at the U23 World Championships in 2007 and 2008. 

Lindberg’s rowing career began at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, where he won the Princess Elizabeth Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. He went on to row at Brown University under legendary coach Steve Gladstone before representing the United States in the double sculls at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. John also currently serves as a coach for the Boston Training Center, home of Boston-based National Team members and aspirants.