- Over 30 years in the sport of rowing as an athlete and coach
- 4x Canadian University Rowing Championship winners (2004, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- 7x Canadian University Coach of the Year (2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)
- Former President of the Canadian University Rowing Association
*As of June, 2026
Craig Pond has completed 27 seasons as UBC Thunderbirds head coach. He’s guided the Women’s Rowing program to success at all levels including multiple national championships.
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2025-26:
After earning gold at the Western Canadian University Championship, the Thunderbirds finished just off the podium with a fourth place finish at the Canadian University Rowing Championship in the fall. Going up against archrivals Victoria in the Brown Cup in the spring, the T-Birds extended their winning streak to a best-ever three years in a row in the historic rivalry series.
The Thunderbirds earned a pair of silver medals at the Western Canadian University Championship and the Canadian University Rowing Championships in the fall, beginning a strong 2024-25 campaign. The T-Birds then won the Women's Varsity race at the Brown Cup in April, defeating Victoria by four seconds to grab the win in back-to-back years.
In the 2023-24 season, Pond led the T-Birds to a win at the Western Canadian University Championship, followed by a silver medal at the Canadian University Rowing Championships, both held at Burnaby Lake. The Thunderbirds then notched a major victory at the Brown Cup in Victoria in April, their first win at the competition since 2018.
In the summer, three T-Birds rowers, Sally Jones, Gabriella Diaz and Gabriella Worobec, all won medals at the 2024 FISU World University Rowing Championships in the Netherlands. UBC was also represented at the 2024 Paris Olympics, when three alumni (Kristen Kit, Kristina Walker and Jessica Sevick) won silver medals as part of the Canadian women’s eight team.
Pond has been involved in the sport of rowing for decades. Since taking over the UBC women's program in 1999, Pond has led the team to several Provincial Championships, Henley Golds, Western Canadian University Championships, National Championship titles, and four Canadian University Rowing Championships (2004, 2018, 2019, 2021).
Pond has helped developed several athletes, many of whom started as novice rowers the UBC program, who have rowed for the Canadian National Team. These athletes have gone on to win medals at the U23 World Championships, Senior World Championships, and the Olympics.
As a NCCP certified coach, Pond has been awarded the Canadian University Coach of the year seven times (2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018). On top of his duties at UBC, he’s also served as the head coach for the BC Provincial Team.
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