Sydney University Boat Club announces the appointment of Phil Bourguignon as the Lead Coach for Women's Development

The Board of Sydney Uni Boat Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Phil Bourguignon as our new coach for Women’s Development ( Junior  and Under 23)

Phil is no stranger to SUBC having served as our Head Coach from 2006- 2010. Since then Phil has been mostly overseas and has served as Chief Coach, London Rowing Club, Head Coach Molesey Boat Club and Head Coach of Twickenham Rowing Club over the period 2010 to 2022.

Phil also worked as Head Coach for the Zimbabwe Rowing Team from 2018-2020.

He has coached on Junior, U23, and Senior Rowing Teams for Australia from 2003 to 2009, with his crews winning 3 Gold, 1 Silver, and 2 Bronze Medals over this period.

Phil has also coached for Great Britain at European Championships, World Cups, and World University Championships with success.

Since returning to Australia in 2022, Phil has been coaching at the University of Queensland Boat Club and has led a real revival in performance at that club.

Phil’s hometown is outside Brisbane on the way to the Gold Coast. He started rowing at Brisbane Grammar School and represented Queensland in the Penrith Cup Lightweight Four 1992-94 and was a scholarship rower at the AIS in 1996 and 97. In 2004 Phil was awarded an AIS Rowing Coach Scholarship over two years having spent 3 seasons as Director of Rowing at Somerville House in Brisbane.

He has a Graduate Certificate in Applied Science, Sports Coaching from The University of Queensland and is an accredited Ironman and Triathlon Coach.

Phil Bourguignon returns to Sydney Uni Boat Club with a wealth of experience and success in coaching over the last twenty-five years.

Having learnt his early lessons at the AIS from Reinhold Batschi Phil is meticulous in his attention to detail and puts all his abilities into ensuring his athletes reach their best.

Phil will work with our Head Coach Tom Laurich, Women’s Coach Alan Bennett and our Men’s Development Team of Simon Huxley and a soon-to-be-announced Men’s Lead Development Coach.

Phil is currently coaching on the 2025 Australian Junior Team and will begin work at Sydney Uni after the World Junior Championships, towards the end of August.