VICTORIA - Marking 60 years of rowing excellence, the University of Victoria will induct three rowing legends into the UVic Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2026: coach Howard Campbell, builder/coach Doug White, and the 1985–86 men's 8+ crew, one of the most dominant university teams in Canadian rowing history. The announcement came during the Vikes Championship Breakfast on Oct. 8, 2025, the university's premier fundraiser supporting student-athlete scholarships.

The induction, which coincides with the 60th anniversary of the men's rowing program, honours the individuals and team who helped shape UVic into a national and international rowing powerhouse.

"It's incredibly special. To have three exceptional inductees recognized in the same year that marks the 60th anniversary of the men's rowing program really underscores the legacy and depth of this team's impact on the university and on Canadian rowing," said Aalbert Van Schothorst, men's rowing head coach.

"Each of these inductees represents a different era of excellence, athletes and coaches who not only set the standard in their time but helped build the foundation for what UVic and Canadian rowing has become. Their commitment, competitiveness, and pursuit of excellence continue to shape the landscape of our sport today."

TEAM
1985–86 men's rowing 8+

Building on the growing legacy of UVic rowing under head coach Al Morrow, the 1985–86 men's 8+ became one of the world's top university crews. Inspired by Canada's gold medal in the men's eight at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which featured several UVic alumni, the Vikes went undefeated throughout the 1985–86 season.

Their defining moment came at the inaugural Royal Victoria Boat Race at Elk Lake, where they claimed victory before thousands of spectators, defeating Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, Washington, and local rivals UBC/Vancouver Rowing Club, cementing their position on the global rowing stage. Every member of the crew represented Canada at the 1986 Commonwealth Games and World Championships, with eight going on to the 1988 Seoul Olympics and three to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where Bruce Robertson and Andy Crosby captured gold in the men's eight.

Crew members: John Ossowski, Eric Kovits, Kevin Neufeld, Bruce Robertson, Andy Crosby, Jason Dorland, Darby Berkhout, Don Telfer and coxswain Brian MacMahon.
Head coach: Al Morrow

COACH
Howard Campbell – head coach, men's rowing (1990–2013)

Howard Campbell's legacy at UVic is defined by vision, endurance, and excellence. Over more than two decades at the helm of the men's rowing program, Campbell helped shape it into one of Canada's most respected university rowing powers and a vital contributor to the national team pipeline.

Originally from Edmonton, Alta., Campbell began rowing in 1976 and later competed for the Vikes from 1981 to 1986, earning team awards for Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Rower, and the Zasada Award for leadership, and serving as team captain in his final season.

Appointed head coach of UVic men's rowing in 1990, Campbell guided the program through a period of profound growth and transition, from a shared RCA/UVic position into a full-time university coaching role. During his 23-year tenure, UVic captured five Canadian University Championship titles (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2009) and produced 17 Olympians, many of whom went on to win international medals for Canada.

Campbell was also instrumental in the creation of two cornerstone events in Canadian university rowing, including the first Brown inaugurated in 1992 as "The Challenge for the Oar," as well as the Canadian University Rowing Championships (CURC), launched in 1997. Under his guidance, UVic won six national banners, finished runner-up six times, and placed in the top three in 15 of 16 seasons.

Campbell has received numerous honours, including the Rowing Canada Aviron Coaching Recognition Award (2012) and the Canadian University Rowing Association Coach of the Year (2009).

BUILDER
Doug White – head coach, men's rowing (1974–1978)

Few figures have influenced the trajectory of UVic rowing more deeply than Doug White, a builder whose leadership and volunteer spirit helped sustain the program in its formative years.

After discovering rowing as a UVic student in 1968, White began coaching in 1973 and became head coach of the men's varsity crew the following year. When the program lost university funding in 1977-78, White stepped up as a volunteer to keep it alive. Through sheer persistence, fundraising, and leadership, he sustained the team and helped secure the program's reinstatement. 

Under his guidance, UVic crews earned strong national and international results, including titles at the Canadian Championships, an undefeated 1982 novice men's crew, and multiple wins during a 1980 UK tour. White's coaching influence spanned generations and borders — from 1984 to 2016, the athletes he trained competed at every Olympic Games. By the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rowers from five nations he had coached lined up on the start line.

White earned his Level 4 National Coaching Institute certification in 1992 and went on to coach at the Victoria City Rowing Club, Banks Rowing Club (Australia), and with the Korean national team. Between 1989 and 2013, his crews achieved eight A-finals and four podium finishes at U23 and Senior World Championships.

Beyond UVic, White served as head coach of the Victoria City Rowing Club for eight years, later leading the Banks Rowing Club in Melbourne, Australia, and the Korean national rowing team. He returned to Victoria in 2017 to close out his coaching career, where it began — on Elk Lake.

Honoured with the 1992 Medal of Confederation, 2003 Ken Shields Coach of the Year Award, and multiple Rowing Canada coaching awards, White's impact is enduring. In 2019, more than 140 former athletes gathered to celebrate his career and launch the Doug White Legacy Fund, supporting aspiring rowing coaches in his name.

Call for nominations

The University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame is looking to add another historical chapter and is calling for nominations for its next induction class.
 
 NOMINATION FORM | TERMS OF REFERENCE 
 
Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis. Each year, a selection committee made up of the Executive Director of Wellness, Recreation and Athletics, Director of Varsity Performance Sport, Associate Director of Sport Compliance and Student Support, alumni representatives, a media representative, two varsity coaches, a student-athlete, and as well as select community members are brought together to review nominations.
 
The UVic Sports Hall of Fame is focused on honouring outstanding contributions of athletes and community members who have enhanced the university's image and reputation through sport or recreation, preserving and recording the history and tradition of sport at the university, promoting sport and healthy living at UVic, and providing fundraising opportunities for the Athletics and Recreation department.
 
PREVIOUS INDUCTEES
 
The UVic Sports Hall of Fame features a variety of well-known coaches, builders, and athletes. The inaugural class of 2002 included Vikes basketball coaching legends Ken and Kathy Shields and rugby player Gareth Rees, Olympic rower Lorne Loomer, and soccer's Wally Milligan in the builder category.
 
The nomination committee is currently accepting nominations via e-mail or mail to Kelley O'Grady, Vikes Communications Officer, at vikescommunications@uvic.ca, or mail to Room A245, CARSA Building, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria, B.C., V8W 2Y2.