Coach Interview: Matthew Houser
- Aodhán Ridenour
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A rower and a coach
“Dude, you’re 6’ 3’’, you’re perfect for this,” was the line Matthew Houser’s mother used to convince him to try out for the crew team in high school. As a former volleyball player looking for a Fall sport, he said why not.
That was over ten years, and a lot of medals, ago. From watching the first three rowers he coached grow into Midwest Champions, to biting into his own gold medal at the Head of the Charles in 2025, Matthew hasn’t left the boathouse.
About the Midwest Championships:
"I remember that [race] more than any of my individual races because it meant so much more to support them as a coach."
As our resident, full-time Para-Adaptive Coach, Matthew is hands-on when it comes to boathouse operations and always available to wrangle a rogue launch or coach TRYR on short notice. His expertise shows, and his thoughtfulness as a coach is endearing to experience.
"I think it’s good not to have all the answers because it means being open to exposing yourself to new ideas."
Matthew has big plans for the Para-Adaptive team at TRRA. In this interview, he talks about what he looks for in a rower, as well as his priorities for:
1) bringing more Youth adaptive athletes to the sport and
2) balancing the recreational component with the competitive component while giving every rower a powerful experience.
“You’re giving these folks [from an adaptive side] this chance to really do something they don’t have freedom to do when it comes to having someone always support them.”
We are lucky to have Matthew at Three Rivers, but the question remains: who is really in charge–Matthew, or his beloved golden doodle Apollo?
*Interview is edited for length and flow.
How old were you when you first got in a boat?
I started my sophomore year of high school. It was a really fun start up. At the time I was doing volleyball in the spring semester, then I needed to find something to do over the fall. My mom brought up that my high school team is starting a rowing team. She said, “dude, you’re 6 3, you’re perfect for this.” She drove me 30 minutes to that first practice and I haven’t left.
Do you remember your favorite boat? Or is it hard to say?
Personally, I’ve enjoy sculling a lot more. It’s been really good to understand the independence and the mechanics that I, as an individual, need to improve myself. There's no room for error. Any work you put in, it’s on you.
As a coach, I’ve enjoyed coaching quads. It’s amazing how fast you can shift the boat with four people in 8 blades altogether in sync.
What is your most memorable race?
As a coach, that’s super easy. It was 24 midwest with our women’s U19 Quad. The first, third and fourth people I taught as a coach; to see their progression finally pay off as a group at the end of 3-4 years. It was amazing to see. I remember that more than any of my individual races because it meant so much more to support them as a coach.
What do you think are the most valuable attributes in an adaptive rower?
Open-mindedness. And ultimately the willingness to, no pun intended, adapt. You have to be open to ideas that come into the individual, and a coach as well. I know I’m not going to have all the answers. I think it’s good not to have all the answers because it means being open to exposing yourself to new ideas. And visa versa as a rower, too.
You’re always learning; you’re not really mastering it. By calling yourself a “Master of” you’re stopping yourself from learning more.
What are your main priorities as a coach on the water?
Safety and making sure your participants or your volunteers are having a great experience with whatever we’re trying to accomplish for the day.
Who is in charge? You or Apollo?
Chuckles* Depends on the day. He’s been awesome to have at practice. It’s been awesome to let him open up a little more. I don’t know, maybe this year we’ll try to work on getting his launch certification … eh, you know what, that’s a big step. Maybe a baby step would be getting him in a coxswain seat.
Do you like living at the Millvale Boathouse?
It’s been awesome to say that I can walk to work. It’s also been really nice to the hands on things that go on from an operation standpoint.
What are your goals for the Adaptive Team at TRRA?
Two big things: Incorporate Youth and promoting the full-lifetime sport aspect that rowing truly is. Number two: maintaining the rec component while also leaving room for the competitive component as well. It’s a huge dynamic that can get lost in some programming. The main thing with it being an inclusive program is that we’re keeping that space available for rowers that really want to excel at that high level and rowers that are there just to have a great time and great experience.
One of our rowers had this really awesome point that rowing was one of the very few times that they had a chance to do something that was fully in their control, because of their situation and their adaptations that they have. That’s something that’s so key to remember: you’re giving these folks from an adaptive side this chance to really do something they don’t have that freedom to do when it comes to having someone always support them.
What do you look for in a rower off the water?
It’s a matter of how you carry yourself as a person and how you support the environment as a good space. There are times at practice when someone may just have a rough day. Making practice a good space for them and how do we make it a good place and everyone better people.
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