Jacksonville University

Tim Tyler began the rowing program at JU in 1953 after gaining experience with boats and ships while serving in the Navy. Officially, Tyler began the JU program in 1954.

"Tiger" Tim Tyler, as he became known because of his competitiveness, originally had no background in the sport but helped to build a boathouse on campus out of scrap wood. He was able to get the United States Naval Academy to donate four rowing shells to JU for the program. The "Tiger" Tim Cup Race is still held in his honor today, however, the cup is always awarded to the loser of an intra-squad race. Tyler also served as a professor on campus while he coached for more than a decade.