Bryan Volpenhein (born August 18, 1976), is an American rower. He is a three-time Olympian, having participated in the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.
Originally from Cincinnati, Volpenhein graduated from Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio and attended Ohio State University, where he rowed for The Ohio State University Crew Club alongside coach John Gutrich; former Purdue lightweight rower, and coached by Tim Carrigg and Lou Renzulli. He graduated in 2002. Following the 2005 World Rowing Championships, he studied culinary arts at The Art Institute of Seattle.
Rowing career Volpenhein is the only two-time winner (in 2002 and 2004) of the USRowing Male Athlete of the Year award. In addition, he and his team were named "USATODAY.com's U.S. Olympic Athlete of the Week" following their Olympic gold medal win in 2004. Volpenhein won bronze in the men's eight at the 2008 Olympics.
Volpenhein became the head coach of the University of Pennsylvania Men's Heavyweight Rowing Team in the 2019–2020 season.Penn Athletics "Olympic Gold Medalist Bryan Volpenhein Named The Nicholas B. Paumgarten Head Coach Of Men’s Heavyweight Rowing" Volpenhein was previously the Training and Technical Director at the University of San Diego Men's Rowing teamUSD Athletics "Three-Time Olympian Bryan Volpenhein Joins Men’s Rowing Staff" for the 2018–2019 season and the Junior Men's Varsity Head Coach at the San Diego Rowing Club in 2019.row2k Media "Olympian Bryan Volpenhein Named New SDRC Junior Men's Varsity Coach" In August 2022, Volpenhein resigned his position at the University of Pennsylvania, so that his family could relocate to support his wife Sarah Trowbridge's move to be head coach of The University of Oklahoma Women's Rowing team. As of June 2024 Volpenhein became the head coach of the men's and women's rowing programs at Oklahoma City University, returning to the sport after a brief hiatus of being a full-time father of two.
References
References USRowing Biography 2008 Olympic Biography USA Today article Bryan Volpenhein - Head Men's and Women's Rowing Coach - Staff Directory