Welcome to the newest RWU Athletics weekly feature, Alumni Profiles. Here we will be featuring a former Roger Williams student-athlete and catching up with them on their career since graduating from RWU.
 
Our first entry comes from Michael McBrien. Michael was a four-year member of the Sailing team and graduated from RWU in 2018 as a Biology Major and Mathematics & Philosophy Minor. In 2018, he was an ICSA All-American Crew and helped the team finish as runner-up at the ICSA/LaserPerformance Team Race National Championship and in sixth place at the ICSA/Gill Coed National Championship. He was a three-time RWU All-Academic Team selection and competed in five ICSA national championship regattas over the course of his career.
What is your current job title and what does that entail?
I am the Head Sailing Coach at US Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point) – one of the five federal service academies, located in Kings Point, N.Y. (just outside New York City).
 
I coach the Varsity Dinghy Sailing team at Kings Point. I oversee my team's day to day operations (practice, workouts, video debriefs, etc.) as well as our recruiting, PR, social media, and scheduling. In addition, I work closely with the coaches on the other Waterfront Athletics teams to provide the best possible experience for our athletes, both on and off the water.
 
How did your athletic involvement at RWU help you towards a career in coaching intercollegiate sailing following graduation?
My involvement on the Sailing team at RWU helped to foster my involvement in sailing from the casual interest of a high school graduate into a love and appreciation for a sport that I will be able to have for the rest of my life. While at RWU, I not only had the privilege to learn from some world-class sailors, but I also got to see how great coaches operate. Our coaches Amanda, Colin, and Sean had a profound impact on my team and myself – both as a person and as an athlete. The opportunity to give back to the sport and have the chance to develop sailor athletes in the same way was something that drew me to the prospect of coaching in college. I enjoy teaching others about the sport I love so much and I have found the process to be incredibly rewarding so far.
 
What would you say were your greatest athletic and academic accomplishments during your time at RWU?
During my senior spring, our team was ranked #1 in the nation, and later that season, we finished second at one of our national championships. I was also named to the ICSA All-American Team, alongside four of my teammates, which was one of my proudest personal accomplishments. At RWU, I graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors and was a recipient of the President's Core Values Medallion and the Award for Outstanding University Engagement.
 
Why did you choose to attend RWU?
I fell in love with the campus during my first visit. The atmosphere is so welcoming, and the campus (and Rhode Island itself) is quite beautiful. The opportunities that exist in the Biology and Marine Biology department were a serious draw for me as well, as those were my main interests as potential majors. While I was not a recruited athlete for sailing prior to arriving at Roger (my first conversation with Amanda was actually just a few days before tryouts), the Waterfront and the opportunity to potentially sail for a nationally-ranked team were a huge added bonus.
 
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities outside of athletics?
In addition to Sailing and SAAC, during my sophomore year I was part of a Living Learning Community that volunteered at a local community nursery school in Bristol.
 
What piece of advice would you have for current RWU student-athletes?
Make every day count! It is all going to go by quicker than you think. For athletics specifically, arrive at practice every day with a goal, no matter how big or small. If you strive to improve each and every day, I guarantee you will make huge gains over the course of your time at RWU.

---

 
Are you a former RWU student-athlete interested in being part of our Alumni Profile series? If so, please contact Athletic Communication Director at nwilliams@rwu.edu for more information!