The big regattas start then.

The New Jersey Scholastic Rowing Championship, an event that didn't exist when Bergman last coached the Spartans, will be held April 26 on the Cooper River in Camden. It's the first of five straight weekend championship regattas.

Bergman came back because he simply missed coaching the sport.

"My last year at Penn (in 2007), I was the coach emeritus, but I really didn't coach," Bergman said. "I missed it a lot."

Many outstanding assistants are with him. John Slattery, who coached the Holy Spirit girls team the last four years, is one assistant. Slattery took over the Spartans' girls program in 2004 and coached a varsity eight that year that won the Scholastic Rowing Association of American Regatta and the Henley Women's Regatta in England.

Brian Duffey, who coached the St. Augustine lightweight eight, is now with Bergman, too. Chris Konicki, the former head coach of the Mainland boys team, is also on the staff. Also assisting are Erik Bergman, Stan's son and a former Mainland assistant, Mike Giegerich and Rob Shamberg.

"I got to know Stan over the past 10 years," Duffey said. "I'm good friends with his son, Erik. When the opportunity came, I had to jump on board to coach with one of the greatest coaches in the country ... in the world. I learn something new every day."

The Holy Spirit boys team made its 2008 debut last Saturday at the Lake Lenape Invitational in Mays Landing but didn't win a race going against strong opponents such as Chaminade (N.Y.), St. Augustine and La Salle High School (Pa.). The Spartans race again Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Lake Lenape Sprints.

Bergman played baseball at Atlantic City High School in the early 1960s but was introduced to rowing by the late Dr. John Holland, the founder of the Viking Rowing Club. With Holland's help, Bergman became Holy Spirit's first crew coach in 1965. Under his guidance, the Spartans' boys varsity eight went to the Henley Regatta, considered rowing's world championship, in 1970, 1974, 1976, 1981 and 1982, winning in 1974, 1976 and 1981.

The program isn't at that level now, but there's potential.

"We have over two boatloads of freshmen, and we're happy with that," Bergman said. "The other kids pretty much rowed last year. Joe Welsh (the former coach, who's now once again the Holy Spirit girls coach) did a good job with them. They're dedicated. It's (rowing) an extention of education. We want to win, and we want to build character, not characters."

Many of Holy Spirit's rival crew coaches have been influenced by Bergman.

"It will be fun to chat with Stan for 10 minutes on a weekend, and watch his crews row, and compete against him," St. Augustine coach Ray D'Amico said. "He's the one who got me in the business in 1983. I was his novice coach at Holy Spirit. He always has something positive to say."

Has high school crew changed?

"It's pretty much the same as before," Bergman said. "We had over 100 (rowers in the program) before, and now it's about 60, but the kids are the same. It's a great sport where you learn a lot about yourself. You can go to a different level if you work as a team. You'll go fast if you do things together. There's not any stars.

"You see them grow and mature, physically and mentally, as the years go. You train for hundreds of hours for about an hour of race time. Crew is a great opportunity for young people to be involved in a great sport. Doc Holland's dream was to get crew started in the area. He certainly started it, and it snowballed.

To e-mail Guy Gargan at The Press:

ggargan@pressofac.com

Meet the coaches

Stan Bergman is not the only new crew coach in the area this spring. And Joe Welsh has switched from coaching HolySpirit's boys team to its girls team. A look at the other coaching changes:

Nicole Brennan, Absegami girls

An assistant last year, Brennan is the head coach this year. Brennan didn't row while at Holy Spirit High School but rowed three years at Virginia Commonwealth before finishing up at Richard Stockton College.

Sean Duffey, Atlantic City girls

Duffey was an assistant coach with the Vikings in 2007. The former Holy Spirit and Jacksonville University rower is also an oarsman in the summer for the Longport Beach Patrol.

John Dattalo, Atlantic City boys

Dattalo played sports at Holy Spirit, but they were football, wrestling and baseball (he also wrestled at Virginia Tech). Dattalo learned about crew while assisting for Holy Spirit coaches Tony Stefanski and Joe Welsh, and from associations with other crew coaches. Dattalo also rows in the summer for the Brigantine Beach Patrol.

Zach Palombo, Egg Harbor Township boys

Palombo was the Vineland girls coach for three years and an assistant for the EHT boys team last spring. Palombo is a former Holy Spirit rower.

Bob Connor, Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Connor is starting the Villagers' new team. A 1989 Temple graduate, Connor was in the bow seat for the Owls' heavyweight eight that won the Dad Vail Regatta his last two years.

Guy Gargan

GGargan@pressofac.com