Updated 5/11/08

Laura Slice, a former standout student-athlete and assistant coach at Clemson University, was hired as the University of Delaware's new women's rowing head coach July 28, 2003.

Slice, 31, had served as a graduate assistant with the women's rowing program at Clemson for the previous three seasons. She will begin her sixth season as UD rowing head coach in 2008-09.

Slice enjoyed tremendous success in her first season at the helm of the Blue Hens in 2003-04 as Delaware competed in six meets and captured its third straight "unofficial" Colonial Athletic Association team championship at the Kerr Cup Regatta Apr. 24 on the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

In her second season in 2004-05, the Blue Hens placed second at the CAA Championships, capturing the Second Varsity Fours and Novice Eights races. The Hens also competed at the ECAC Metro Championships and at the Dad Vail Regatta.

The Blue Hen rowers returned to the top of the CAA in 2005-06 when the squad captured the CAA team title, including winning the Varsity Eight race. The Blue Hens also placed 10th at the ECAC Metro Championships and competed at the Dad Vail Regatta.

During the 2006-07 season, the Blue Hens placed second at the CAA Championships and seventh at the ECAC Metro Championships and advanced to crews to the semifinals at the Dad Vail Regatta. During the 2007-08 season, the Blue Hens placed third at the CAA Championships with the Novice Fours crew capturing the league title.

"We are excited to have Laura Slice join our staff and head our women's rowing program here at the University of Delaware," said UD Director of Athletics Edgar N. Johnson in making the announcement. "She brings energy and enthusiasm to the position and joins us following an outstanding experience at a strong program at Clemson. Our women's rowing team has enjoyed great success over a short period of time and we are confident that Laura will continue that momentum."

A native of Florence, SC where she participated in softball, cross country, and track and field at West Florence High School, Slice moved on to Clemson where she picked up the sport of rowing and competed three years for the club team, earning the squad's Most Dedicated Rower award as a junior. The sport was elevated to varsity status her senior year when she was named Most Inspirational Rower and led the team to a first place finish at the Atlantic Coast Conference Regatta and a fourth place finish at the Central Region Regatta. She earned her degree with honors in biological sciences from Clemson in 1999.

Following her graduation, she worked one year with the United States Department of Agriculture in Florence, SC before returning to Clemson to begin her coaching career in 2000. She served as a graduate assistant coach under head coach Susie Lueck for three seasons, helping the Tigers place third at the ACC championships in both 2002 and 2003 and place fourth in the South Regional in 2003. The 2002 team was ranked as high as No. 15 in the nation at one point and she led the Second Varsity Fours team to a third place finish at the South Regionals.

While with the Clemson staff, she was responsible for coaching the Varsity Fours, Second Varsity Fours, Second Novice Eights, and Second Novice Fours crews, assisted with on-campus recruiting, worked closely with student managers, and wrote a monthly newsletter to parents and prospective student-athletes.

She earned her master's degree in education and student affairs with honors from Clemson in May, 2003.