Steve Hargis, East Lyme High School's athletic director and U.S. Rowing's Director of Under-19 high-performance programs, was named this week as U.S. Rowing's 2018 Man of the Year. Hargis will be honored at the organization's annual awards reception Dec. 8 in San Diego.

Hargis, who lives in East Lyme, has been responsible for the growth, program changes, coach mentoring and long-term planning for the junior national teams since 2008.

From 1999-2008, he served as head coach of the junior women's national team development camp and from 2004-08 he was head coach of the junior women's national team. His teams have seen numerous podium finishes, including winning the first-ever gold medal for the U.S. in the women's eight at the 2008 World Rowing Junior Championship in Linz-Ottensheim, Austria. In 2018, the U.S. team made history, as it came away with two gold medals and seven total medals from the junior world championship.

“It is almost impossible to put into words how honored I am to receive this award,” Hargis said in a press release. “The last decade has been a great journey with amazing coaches and athletes that have all had a part in the evolution of the U19 program to an unprecedented level of success.

“I am proud of what we, collectively, have accomplished and know the great Hart Perry, my mentor and friend, would be, too. I look forward to seeing what the future has to offer and I am excited to be part of such a great program.”

Hargis is a 1980 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy and a 2011 inductee into the Coast Guard Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a three-year letter-winner and captain of the Coast Guard crew, leading the Bears' intermediate eight to a win at the Head of the Charles in 1977 and representing the academy at the Henley Royal Regatta in England.

Hargis also coaches the boys' indoor and outdoor track teams at East Lyme High.