Staff
Nikolay Kurmakov
nikolay.kurmakov@simmons.edu
Head Crew Coach/Facility Manager, Athletics SC 617-521-1041
Nik Kurmakov, who emigrated to the United States in 1992 and once reigned as the former Soviet Union's National Rowing champion, brings more than 30 years of rowing experience to the Simmons crew program. The 2010-11 season will be Kurmakov's seventeenth year at the helm of Simmons Crew.
As a coach, Kurmakov has mentored the Simmons program to one of the top squads in the region. The Varsity Eight rowed to a first place finish at the 2009 Seven Sisters Regatta, and was ranked as high as 7th in the nation in spring 2010. In 2006, Simmons earned medals at the New England Fours Championship, the ECAC Championship and the world-renowned Head of the Charles Regatta. Simmons also captured the New England Fours Women’s Division Championship 2007 and 2008.
Kurmakov coached the Ukrainian and Soviet Union national rowing squads from 1977-1992 and has also coached at the Riverside Boat Club in Cambridge.
As a rower, he has garnered first place finishes at the National Championships in the Ukraine and the former Soviet Union from 1973 to 1975. More recently, Kurmakov won a gold medal in the Senior Master Men’s Eight in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Head of the Charles for Team Attager. Kurmakov's 2007 Eight also set a course record.
Naomi Rudov Walker
naomi.walker@simmons.edu
Novice Crew Coach/Sports Information Director, Athletics 617-521-1025
Naomi Walker (formerly Rudov) is entering her fifth year as the Novice Crew Coach at Simmons College. In the 2010-11 season, Coach Walker helped the team to an 11th place National Division III ranking for the third year in a row. In the fall, Coach Walker's two Novice Eights placed first in the Seven Sisters Regatta, and placed second and fourth at the Textile Regatta. In 2010, she coached the third varsity eight to a silver medal at New Englands.
In her first season with the Sharks, the Novice 8+ won gold at the 2008 ECAC Regatta-- a program first; silver at the 2008 New England Rowing Championships; and went undefeated during the regular spring racing season. In the fall, her novice squad placed 1st and 3rd at the 2007 New Hampshire Championship Regatta in the Novice 8+ event.
Before arriving at Simmons, Walker spent two years as the Head Crew Coach at Lesley University. Walker has also coached Masters sculling, introductory sculling, and introductory sweep rowing at the Boston University summer rowing school.
Walker graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2005 with a BA in Journalism. While at UMass, Walker rowed for the Division I Minutewomen, helping the team to three consecutive Atlantic-10 Conference Championships.
In addition to her coaching duties, Walker worked as the Sports Information Director for Simmons Athletics from 2008-11. She is a USRowing certified Level 2 Coach and a member of Riverside Boat Club. Walker resides in Brighton, Mass. with her husband.