ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Navy men's lightweight rowing head coach Shawn Bagnall announced the hiring of James Sands as an assistant coach for the program. Sands brings with him over 10 years of high-level collegiate competition as both a coach and student-athlete.

"I couldn't be more pleased to have James as part of the Naval Academy Lightweight family and knew immediately during his interview that he was a great fit for our boathouse," said head coach Shawn Bagnall. "His tireless efforts and contribution with Coach Myhr to build the George Washington men's program into a powerhouse, as well as his time recruiting and developing athletes at Penn, brings high-caliber EARC Sprints League experience to Hubbard Hall. Being part of the resurgent University of Texas women's program will also allow him to guide our athletes toward future success, and there is no doubt James will have a tremendous impact on our squad."

"I am incredibly excited to get started working with Coach Bagnall and the Lightweights here at the Naval Academy," said Sands. "There is a tremendous amount of history, tradition, and support behind Navy Rowing, especially the Lightweight team, and the potential here is limitless. It is an honor to be a part of something really special at Hubbard Hall. I'm looking forward to getting started and getting to work."

Sands comes to the Naval Academy after recently serving on staff at the University of Texas in the role of boatman for the varsity women's program during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. This past spring, the Longhorns finished seventh in the country at the NCAA Championships, the highest placement by a Texas rowing squad at the national championship in school history. In recognition of the Longhorns' success, Sands and the other members of the staff were selected as the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association National Division One Staff of the Year.

Prior to Texas, Sands was an assistant coach with the Penn heavyweight team from 2011 to 2013 after holding the same position with the George Washington heavyweight squad from 2007 to 2010. With the Quakers, he helped with recruiting and organizing official visits, as well as gathering talent and coaching walk-ons from Penn's campus. Sands' varsity four crew in 2013 came in first place at the Eastern Sprints, earning the program's first medal of any kind at the Sprints since 2006. As a member of the Colonials' staff, Sands led the freshmen program and saw GW reach new heights with a ninth place finish at the Eastern Sprints in 2009. Sands' freshman crew finished the 2008 season with a 7-1 duel racing record.

Away from the collegiate ranks, Sands was a head coach at the US Rowing Olympic Men's Development Camp at the University of Pennsylvania and at the Mid-Atlantic region between 2008 and 2013. He also served as head coach of the women's USRowing Development Camp at the University of Texas during the summer of 2015. Highlights from his time with USRowing include coaching both sculling and sweep boats to medal winning performances at the USRowing Club National Championships and Royal Canadian Henley Regatta.

A 2007 graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Sands was a four-year member of the Badgers' heavyweight crew program. In his first year, Sands served as a coxswain on the freshman eight, coxing his crew to an undefeated duel season record. Over next three years, he began rowing, capturing several Midwest Championships titles as part of the nationally-ranked heavyweight squad. He graduated from Wisconsin with a degree in political science. After college, Sands trained as a lightweight for several short stints at Riverside boat club in Boston, Massachusetts and the Pennsylvania Athletic Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.