BERKELEY – The California men's rowing team is adding to its championship pedigree with the hiring of assistant coach Sam Baum, head coach Scott Frandsen announced on Thursday. Baum, a Berkeley native, joins the Golden Bears after seven seasons at Yale.

"I'm thrilled to have Sam joining our coaching staff," said Frandsen. "He has done an outstanding job at Yale and has helped them win back-to-back national championships. He knows the recruiting world, both domestically and internationally, and will bring a lot to our staff.  Sam is well-respected amongst his fellow coaches and I'm looking forward to working with him."

A Berkeley native, Baum returns to the West Coast after spending the last seven seasons as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator for the Yale Men's Heavyweight program. Baum coached alongside former Cal head coach Steve Gladstone and helped the Eli varsity eight to two consecutive national titles, including the program's first ever Varsity Challenge Cup title in 2017. During his time in New Haven, Baum helped Yale snap a more-than 30-year drought and capture four consecutive EARC championships from 2015 to 2018. Baum guided his third and fourth varsity eights to two victories at the historic Yale-Harvard dual, as well as gold, silver, and bronze finishes at the Eastern Sprints Regatta. In his role as recruiting coordinator, Baum helped evaluate and attract top talent from across the globe to New Haven, Connecticut.

"I'm excited and honored to be joining Scott's staff and the Cal Crew family," said Baum. "Having grown up in Berkeley, I have a deep respect and admiration for both the university and rowing program. I look forward to continuing the tradition of championship crews at the world's best public university."

Baum began his coaching career at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, helping make marked improvements in his two years as head coach.

A 2009 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Baum was named the team's most valuable rower after stroking the Penn freshman eight that won the Eastern Sprints and took bronze at the 2006 IRA National Championship regatta. As an upperclassman, Baum stroked the Quakers' varsity eight during several spring cup races.

No stranger to the Bay Area, Baum attended Berkeley High School and rowed for the Oakland Strokes, winning three state titles and placing second at the US Rowing Youth National Championships in the eight. Baum is a lifelong Cal fan having attended his first Cal basketball game at two years of age in the old Harmon Gym.

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