View Diggins' Complete Biography in PDF Format

Patrick Diggins is now in his 27th season as the head women’s rowing coach for the Crusaders in 2012-2013. Diggins also serves as the director of rowing. A rower both at St. John’s High School in Shrewbury, Mass., and at Holy Cross, Diggins joined the Crusader coaching staff as an assistant upon graduation in 1986. He was promoted to the head coaching position in 1987. During his tenure, the program has enjoyed tremendous success and grown to be one of the largest varsity sports at Holy Cross.

In the last nine years the women’s team has been remarkably successful, highlighted by two undefeated regular seasons. Holy Cross placed second out of 27 teams at the 2012 New England Championship on Lake Quinsigamond. The second varsity eight and second varsity four each placed second earning silver medals, while the varsity eight won bronze by finishing third. The team had 23 student-athletes named to the 2012 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

In the 2010-2011 campaign, Holy Cross tied for first out of 39 teams for the point trophy at the 40th Schuylkill Regatta. The Crusaders also won the Irving-Christensen Cup as the varsity eight won their race with Boston College and Connecticut. The varsity eight also defeated UMass in a dual-race in the spring season. The Crusaders finished fourth out of 25 teams at the New England Championship, as the second varsity eight won the bronze medal. The second varsity eight and the varsity four also earned bronze medals at the Patriot League Championship.

In 2009-2010, the Crusaders tied for second out of 24 teams at the New England Championship, as the second varsity eight boat earned a silver medal. Holy Cross also finished third at the Patriot League Championship and placed 21 members on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. In 2008-2009, the Crusaders placed second at the New England Championship, while Holy Cross also led the Patriot League with 33 selections to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

Over the years the program has earned many accolades, claiming two New Hampshire championships, winning one silver and five bronze medals at the New England Championship, winning gold in the varsity eight at the Patriot Challenge three times, winning the team trophy twice at the Patriot Challenge, winning four Worcester City Championship titles and finishing first and sixth at the ECAC National Invitational Championship. Other previous high points include six conference titles since 1987 and a victory at the the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta for the 1993 varsity eight.

Diggins was voted New England Women’s Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2002 and was awarded the irow.com coaching award in 2002 along with former Holy Cross men’s rowing coach Tom Sullivan. Diggins also serves on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer of the Quinsigamond Rowing Association, Inc., the local organization that hosts the Big East Championship, the Patriot League Championship, the New England Championship, the Eastern Sprints, the ECAC National Invitational Championship Regatta and the New England Interscholastic Regatta. He was also a co-founder of the ECAC National Invitational Regatta.

He and his wife Kristen (Holy Cross Class of 1990) live in Holden, Mass., and have three children, Kate (Holy Cross Class of 2015), Daniel and Maggie.