Head Coach Jennifer Arnold
Coach Jennifer “Jen” Arnold was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She founded her High School Rowing team, where she served as team captain for 2 years. She was recruited to row for the University of Charleston, where she received both athletic and academic scholarships. She later transferred to the University of Central Florida, after suffering a shoulder injury that ended her rowing career.
Jen began her coaching career in Orlando, Florida with the Lake Brantley Rowing Association.
Over the course of four years at Lake Brantley, she earned two State Titles, and has been responsible for rowers getting recruited to Princeton, Cornell, and Syracuse to name a few. After a short coaching career in Alaska, where she coached a competitive master’s rowing team, she began coaching Virginia Tech as the head coach.
While coaching for Virginia Tech, Jen continued to pursue athletic endeavors. She is a Certified personal trainer and holds a US Rowing Level 2 Certification. Jen has 15 years of rowing experience, as well as 8 years of competitive coaching experience.
As the new head coach of MSU, Jen is striving to impart her knowledge, experience, and dedication to the sport on her rowers. Part of her major goal for this year is to heavily recruit motivated, dedicated athletes who want to become the future of Michigan State Crew. Coach Jen excited to build this team into an even more competitive program that will continue to grow in years to come.
Coach Jennifer “Jen” Arnold was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She founded her High School Rowing team, where she served as team captain for 2 years. She was recruited to row for the University of Charleston, where she received both athletic and academic scholarships. She later transferred to the University of Central Florida, after suffering a shoulder injury that ended her rowing career.
Jen began her coaching career in Orlando, Florida with the Lake Brantley Rowing Association.
Over the course of four years at Lake Brantley, she earned two State Titles, and has been responsible for rowers getting recruited to Princeton, Cornell, and Syracuse to name a few. After a short coaching career in Alaska, where she coached a competitive master’s rowing team, she began coaching Virginia Tech as the head coach.
While coaching for Virginia Tech, Jen continued to pursue athletic endeavors. She is a Certified personal trainer and holds a US Rowing Level 2 Certification. Jen has 15 years of rowing experience, as well as 8 years of competitive coaching experience.
As the new head coach of MSU, Jen is striving to impart her knowledge, experience, and dedication to the sport on her rowers. Part of her major goal for this year is to heavily recruit motivated, dedicated athletes who want to become the future of Michigan State Crew. Coach Jen excited to build this team into an even more competitive program that will continue to grow in years to come.
Coach Michael O'Keefe
Michael O’Keefe began his rowing career at Forest Hills Eastern High School in Ada, Michigan where he rowed all 4 years. He then went on to row for MSU all 4 years as well, ending his career as the team captain his senior year. After graduation in 2016, Michael accepted a job in Okemos, Michigan as a software developer and was the head novice coach for the MSU Crew Club for the 2016-2017 year. Since then, he has remained with the club and assists with both novice and varsity.
Michael O’Keefe began his rowing career at Forest Hills Eastern High School in Ada, Michigan where he rowed all 4 years. He then went on to row for MSU all 4 years as well, ending his career as the team captain his senior year. After graduation in 2016, Michael accepted a job in Okemos, Michigan as a software developer and was the head novice coach for the MSU Crew Club for the 2016-2017 year. Since then, he has remained with the club and assists with both novice and varsity.
Assistant Coach Sam Busco
Sam Busco is a 2018 graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a degree in Supply Chain and Accounting. Along with balancing a rigorous academic schedule, he competed all four years on the Men’s Varsity Rowing Team, serving as team captain during both his Junior and Senior years of college. As captain, Sam lead the team to back to back top ten finishes at IRA and brought his team to the top 8 competitors in the 2018 Royal Henley Regatta in London, England. As a professional, Sam works as an Operations Supervisor for the Distribution network of Meijer in Lansing. Driven to stay with the sport and see another team succeed, Sam signed up to assistant coach with MSU Men’s Crew when he arrived in Michigan and wants to make our team achieve new heights. Outside of rowing, Sam is an avid Boston Red Sox and Clemson Tigers Football fan and is looking forward to seeing “Death Valley” up close when the Men’s Team travels to Clemson for Spring training over break in March 2019.
Sam Busco is a 2018 graduate of Syracuse University, where he earned a degree in Supply Chain and Accounting. Along with balancing a rigorous academic schedule, he competed all four years on the Men’s Varsity Rowing Team, serving as team captain during both his Junior and Senior years of college. As captain, Sam lead the team to back to back top ten finishes at IRA and brought his team to the top 8 competitors in the 2018 Royal Henley Regatta in London, England. As a professional, Sam works as an Operations Supervisor for the Distribution network of Meijer in Lansing. Driven to stay with the sport and see another team succeed, Sam signed up to assistant coach with MSU Men’s Crew when he arrived in Michigan and wants to make our team achieve new heights. Outside of rowing, Sam is an avid Boston Red Sox and Clemson Tigers Football fan and is looking forward to seeing “Death Valley” up close when the Men’s Team travels to Clemson for Spring training over break in March 2019.
Assistant Coach Ryan Crane
Ryan Crane graduated from Michigan State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Human Biology. During his time at Michigan State, he rowed for the MSU Crew Club from 2013-2016. During the 2015 season he was elected captain and awarded most improved varsity rower. Following graduation, he began volunteer coaching for the team. He has helped coach the team the past two seasons. In the fall of 2019 he will be starting medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine. He hopes to continue coaching and remaining an active part of the team throughout medical school. Currently, he works as a research assistant studying the cardiovascular effects of air pollution and freelance as a photographer.
Ryan Crane graduated from Michigan State University in 2016 with a B.S. in Human Biology. During his time at Michigan State, he rowed for the MSU Crew Club from 2013-2016. During the 2015 season he was elected captain and awarded most improved varsity rower. Following graduation, he began volunteer coaching for the team. He has helped coach the team the past two seasons. In the fall of 2019 he will be starting medical school at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine. He hopes to continue coaching and remaining an active part of the team throughout medical school. Currently, he works as a research assistant studying the cardiovascular effects of air pollution and freelance as a photographer.
