Alan Jacobsen
Banks Rowing Club (VIC)
1938 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – Fourth
1962 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship coach - First
1962 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games – Men’s Eight coach – Gold
1962 – World Championships – Men’s Eight coach - Fifth
1963 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship coach - First
1964 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship coach - First
1964 – Olympic Games – Men’s Eight coach - Eighth
1970 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championships selector
Alan had rowing imbued into him by a keen rowing father. He excelled at rowing at Scotch College and went onto to stroke the 1938 King’s Cup crew.
After serving in WWII, he briefly returned to the sport until family and business pressures intervened. In the early 1960s, he was persuaded to return to rowing by preparing the Banks senior eight for the State Championships. This commenced a highly successful period of coaching. After the 1964 Olympic Games he retired but maintained his interest in the sport. His interest in coaching went beyond the elite level. He coached school and club crews and produced coaching videos and other tools for aspiring coaches.
Alan is also the author of a book titled Australia in World Rowing published by Hill of Content in 1984. An obscure sporting fact is that he played senior football for Footscray playing against the great Jack Dyer and with Ambrose Palmer (famous boxer and trainer of John Famechon).
Andrew Guerin 2011