The University of Notre Dame rowing team surprised Athletic Director Emeritus Jack Swarbrick by naming the program’s newest racing shell the “Jack ‘Be Irish’ Swarbrick ’76” on Thursday, May 2, outside the Joyce Center on Notre Dame’s campus. The name pays honor to Swarbrick, who served 16 years as Notre Dame’s University Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics, his graduation year from Notre Dame, his traditional sign off for emails and group meetings (Be Irish) was christened using iced tea, Swarbrick’s ubiquitous choice of beverage.
Swarbrick recently turned over the athletic director title to Pete Bevacqua and will serve as athletic director emeritus until June of 2024.
Surprised by the event, Swarbrick told the rowing team about his early years as an undergraduate at Notre Dame as a short-term member of the men’s club rowing team. Among the long list of achievements in his time at Notre Dame, Swarbrick oversaw the construction of the McConnelly Family Boathouse on the St. Joseph River in South Bend, Indiana that provides the rowing team with one of the best facilities in the nation.
The racing shell is from Empacher, a C89 model which is the companies newest design made from carbon and kevlar. The shell could see its first action at the 2024 ACC Championship, for which the Irish are in training and will be held on May 17 and 18 on Lake Wheeler in North Carolina.
