Hobart and William Smith Colleges Athletics

Paul Bugenhagen serves as the Hobart and William Smith director of rowing and head coach of the William Smith rowing team. He joined the HWS coaching staff in 2011 as the head coach of Hobart rowing and in 2020, added head coach of William Smith rowing to his responsibilities. Bugenhagen took on his current role as director of rowing and head coach of the Herons for the 2023-24 academic year.

Bugenhagen is entering his seventh season coaching the Herons. In 2026,William Smith returned to the top of the Liberty League capturing their first conference champiopnship since 2016. Bugenhagen and his assistant were named the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year and the CRCA Division III New York Region Staff of the Year. At the NCAA Championships, the Herons finished third overall mathing their best finish in program history. The varsity eight won a bronze medal and was named the Liberty League Crew of the Year. 

Under Bugenhagen's tutaledge, 17 Herons have received All-Liberty League praise. In addition, six athletes have reveived Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association All-America priase. In the classroom, Bugenhagen's charges have earned 72 Liberty League All-Academic selections and 30 CRCA Scholar Athlete awards. 

Bugenhagen led the Statesmen for 12 years. He was the 2014 Joy of Sculling Collegiate Coach of the Year and earned three ECAC NIRC Coach of the Year awards and six Liberty League Men's Rowing Coaching Staff of the Year awards. Bugenhagen led Hobart to 10 consecutive Liberty League Championships and guided 10 crews to gold medal-winning performances at the NIRCs as well as 11 additional podium finishes at the NIRC. He has mentored three U.S. National Team members, 10 Liberty League Crews of the Year and 42 All-Liberty League selections. In the classroom, his charges have picked up 109 Liberty League All-Academic awards, 36 NIRC All-Academic selections and 10 CRCA Scholar-Athletes.

At the Head of the Charles, Bugenhagen has had five boats reach the podium. Hobart won four medals, including a gold in 2015. The Herons won a silver medal in 2026. 

Bugenhagen came to Hobart after six successful seasons as the head coach of the Bucknell men's rowing team. The 2009 ACRA Mid-Atlantic Coach of the Year oversaw the development of five ACRA All-Americans, including two in 2010-11, six ACRA All-Mid-Atlantic pics, and 18 ACRA National Academic Team honorees. He also mentored former Bison Kyle Lafferty, who won the men’s pair at the 2011 Senior World Championship Trials and won the four at the 2011 USRowing National Championships.

Additionally, Bugenhagen spent three summers as the head coach of the pre-elite program at the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia. At Vesper, he coached eight U.S. National Champions and 10 crews to gold medals at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta. Bugenhagen also spent three summers as an assistant coach for the U.S. National Team.

Prior to Bucknell, Bugenhagen spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Princeton University. He also has served as the head coach of the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association in Princeton, N.J., and of Gainesville Area Rowing.

Bugenhagen earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in exercise and sports science from the University of Florida. He is a USRowing Level III and FISA Level II certified coach.