The Jablonic Era

Randy Jablonic was born in Waukeegan, Illinois and spent most of his childhood in Owen, Wisconsin.

As a UW student in the late 1950s, “Jabo” was recruited by Norm Sonju and rowed on the National Champion 1959 team.

Following the 1960 season, “Jabo” became the Freshman coach.

He became Sonju’s hand picked successor in 1968, and went on to become the most successful coach of men’s crew at UW.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on being promoted to head coach. (4:34)

As earlier coaches such as Mike Murphy struggled with funding for the sport, Jablonic also was faced with the threat of elimination early in his career.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• David Cronon comments on the Athletic Board. (1:55)

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on Athletic Director Elroy Hirsch and the Athletic Department in the early 1970s. (4:34)

Having weathered the storm, “Jabo” coached the Varsity to consecutive National Championships from 1972 to 1975. Jablonic credits his assistants, in particular Freshman Coach Doug Neil as laying the groundwork for this success.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on Doug Neil. (4:58)

As crew continued to be a non-scholarship sport, Jablonic developed recruiting techniques which took advantage of the long registration lines of those days.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on recruiting. (5:24)

In the midst of the great success of the men’s crew, women’s crew began at UW.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on the founding of women’s crew. (7:25)

As Jablonic’s career went on he, like Sonju, sought to involve himself and the athletes in international competition. In particular, “Jabo” was proud to coach several Olympians and coached the US squad at the World Championships from 1981 to 1983. Jablonic was narrowly passed over as the US Olympic coach in 1984.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on the Olympics and international competitions. (4:34)

The chief other contribution to UW rowing that Jablonic made was the founding of the Midwest Rowing Championship annual race, held on Madison every year from 1973 to 2007. Bringing in other schools to race on the Lakes Mendota and Monona helped further solidify crew at UW, and made UW the pacesetter among Midwestern schools involved in the sport.

Listen to an Oral History Clip below.

• Randy Jablonic comments on the Midwest Rowing Championships and bringing in opponents for races in Madison. (6:34)

After the longest tenure of any UW crew coach, Jablonic retired following the 1995 season and was succeeded by one of his assistants, Chris Clark.