Vespoli

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Vespoli is a manufacturer of racing shells for rowing. It was founded by former Georgetown rower and Olympian Mike Vespoli in 1980 and is located on the Quinnipiac River in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Most Vespoli rowing shells are made in the New Haven, CT facility, but some have been made in the past in Mexico for their M2 model and most recently in China, where the Launcher line was produced. The Launchers are now made in New Haven, but the cost of the boat rose to reflect that change.

Mike Vespoli's Coaching Career:

1968 to 1972, St. Joseph Prep School; 1972 to 1974, University of Massachusetts; 1974 to 1977, Wichita State University; 1977 to 1980, Yale University.

The four years (1981 - 1984) following Mike Vespoli's departure as Yale's Frosh Men's Heavyweight Coach, Yale's Varsity Men's Heavyweight Crew beat Harvard in the annual Harvard-Yale race.

U.S. National Team Coach: 1979, Head Coach, U.S. Lightweight Men; 1980, Assistant Coach, U.S. Heavyweight Men.

Mike Vespoli's career has been closely associated with Coach Tony Johnson: Johnson coached Vespoli at Georgetown form 1967 to 1968; Johnson was the assistant coach and Vespoli an oarsman on the 1972 U.S. Olympic Crew; Johnson recommended Vespoli for the Wichita State University position; Johnson hired Vespoli as Yale's Frosh Men's Novice Coach in 1977; Vespoli is Committee Co-Chair of the Georgetown University Boathouse project where Johnson has coached since 1989.

Mike Vespoli is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee for Men's Rowing, a consultant to the President's Commission on Olympic Sports and was a NBC commentator for rowing in Barcelona in 1992.

Mike Vespoli and Nancy Vespoli established the Vespoli Family Crew Scholarship at Georgetown University in 2003. The scholarship provides financial aid to one or more intercollegiate rowers who demonstrate financial need. Mike and Nancy have also donated money in support of the Georgetown University Boathouse project.

In 2000, Mike Vespoli was honored with the "Power Ten" award. The award is given to those who are committed to supporting the sport of rowing, both nationally and internationally.