Bergman compiled 110 cup and championship victories during his tenure at Penn. In his second season, the Red & Blue recorded their best season in sixteen years, claiming the Ivy League Championship and finishing the cup race with an 8-1 record. That same year his heavyweights traveled to the Amsterdam Invitational and to the Henley Royal Regatta, placing second in both competitions. Bergman’s heavyweights took two IRA Championship titles, in 1989 and 1992, as well as four Eastern Sprints titles, in 1986, 1991, 1996, and 1998. In 1990 Bergman coached Penn to an 8-0 record, the program’s second undefeated cup race season. In 1991 his varsity heavyweight crew took home the national title, and his second varsity heavyweight boat went undefeated through the cup and championship season, finishing the year by winning the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley.
Prior to being appointed 12th head coach at Penn, Bergman was head coach at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, N.J., assistant coach at Columbia University, and assistant heavyweight coach at Penn. At Holy Spirit he took the crews to three championships at Henley, coached 18 national school-boy championship boats, and had 22 boats win City Championship titles. Bergman has also coached on the international level, including as assistant to the 1979 Pan American gold-medal eight. As assistant coach at Penn, his freshman eight claimed the 1977 Eastern Sprints Championship.
Bergman, known for his insistence on perfect technique, has motivate his many crews by encouraging them to “just take it one stroke at time.”
A native of Ventnor, N.J., and 1966 Glassboro State graduate, Bergman has served as the Chief of the Ventnor City Beach Patrol for the past seventeen years. He and his wife, Barbara, have four children and seven grandchildren.
The Schuylkill Navy will honor Stan Bergman at its annual banquet on Saturday, March 24. Check back for details.