Claire Martin-Doyle enters her 17th season as the head coach of the MIT lightweight women’s rowing program in 2022-23, a program that is regularly ranked among the top-10 in the nation. In the 2021-22 season, the lightweight 4 captured the IRA National Championship, as well as the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
In 2018-19, the Engineers had all three of their boats finish seventh in the Grand Finals at the IRA National Championship. In addition, the varsity 4 finished fourth in the Grand Final at the Dad Vail Regatta, while the Varsity 8 finished second in the competition for the Dennis Kamrad Trophy.
Overall, Martin-Doyle has guided the team to four gold medals in the last eight seasons at the Dad Vail and the squad has qualified for the IRA National Championship in each of the last nine seasons in which the championship was held. The IRA Regatta was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the full 2020-21 season.
The Engineers also continued to the highlight the program's commitment to academic success as MIT had six student-athletes earn CRCA Scholar-Athlete accolades in 2021-22.
Martin-Doyle joined the Engineers in 2006 as novice lightweight women’s coach and was promoted to head coach in 2007. During her time at MIT the Engineers have had success in racing and in growing the lightweight program across the board.
She graduated from Georgetown University in 1999, where she was a four-year rower, participant in the 1998 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship and was a recipient of the John Carroll Spirit Award. Prior to rowing with the Hoyas, Martin-Doyle rowed at West Side Rowing Club and Nardin Academy in Buffalo, N.Y. where she was a member of both scholastic and national champion crews.
Martin-Doyle earned her Master of Education degree from Temple University in 2004 with a concentration in sport and exercise psychology. While living in Philadelphia, she competed for the Vesper Boat Club and spent three seasons coaching Lower Merion High School.
Martin-Doyle resides in Newton, Mass. with her husband and daughter.
