Kevin Hinkle joined the Yale heavyweight crew coaching staff as an assistant coach in August 2026.
Hinkle arrived in New Haven after spending two seasons at Syracuse University, where he helped the Orange earn the 2025 Intercollegiate Rowing Coaches Association (IRCA) Division I Coaching Staff of the Year award. At Syracuse, Hinkle coached the third and fourth varsity crews while serving as the program’s lead recruiter for international prospects and assisting with team logistics.
Prior to Syracuse, Hinkle spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego. During his tenure with the Toreros, the program recorded two top-three finishes at the Head of the Charles Regatta and captured the Team Efficiency Trophy at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Championships. His recruiting efforts helped restore the program to full roster capacity, bringing in recruiting classes of 15 and 14 student-athletes in consecutive years. He also coordinated team travel logistics.
Hinkle began his coaching career at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, before serving as an athlete and coach with the Saratoga Rowing Association, where he coached middle and high school boys’ rowing while supporting boathouse operations.
As a student-athlete at Michigan, Hinkle was a two-time ACRA First Team All-American and helped lead the Wolverines to three ACRA National Championships. He also represented the United States in the men’s eight at the 2018 World University Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China. During his senior year, he served as the team’s treasurer, overseeing the club’s $300,000 operating budget.
Following his time at Michigan, Hinkle earned a master’s degree with distinction in synthetic biology from Newcastle University in England, where he served as vice captain of the men’s rowing team. He helped Newcastle reach the semifinals of the Prince Albert Challenge Cup at the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta.
Hinkle earned his bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from Michigan in 2019 and his master’s degree in synthetic biology with distinction from Newcastle University in 2022.
