Brandon Shald

Men’s Assistant Coach

Brandon Shald '09 is in his second season as an an assistant coach with the Cal men’s rowing team, having joined Scott Frandsen’s staff in June of 2018.

A 2007 IRA Champion and 2009 Cal graduate, Shald joins the Golden Bear staff as an assistant coach after spending the last three seasons at Penn, coaching alongside former Golden Bear coach Geoff Bond. As the Quakers’ top assistant, Shald worked with all the program’s boats and student-athletes, while also serving as Penn’s head of recruiting. Prior to his arrival in Philadelphia, Shald spent two seasons at Princeton, helping both the heavyweight and lightweight crews to top-five finishes at both the IRA and Eastern Sprints. In addition to his duties with Tigers' varsity programs, Shald also served as head coach of the Carnegie Lake Rowing Association from the spring of 2014 through the fall of 2015.

A three-year member of the Cal men’s rowing team, Shald helped the Bears’ novice eight to an undefeated season in 2007, winning both the Pac-10 and IRA Championships while also capturing the prestigious Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta. Shald then became a fixture in the Bears’ varsity eight, helping Cal to a Pac-10 title in the eight in 2009 and podium finishes at the IRA in both 2008 and 2009. During his time in Berkeley, Shald was also recognized for his leadership and teamwork, winning the program’s Dean Witter Award as a senior.

After graduating in 2009 with a degree in Classical Civilization, Shald spent time training with the U.S. National Team, winning a silver medal in the eight at the 2013 Samsung World Rowing Cup in Sydney. Shald also took part in selection for the eight for the 2012 Olympics and stroked the California Rowing Club eight to victory at the Royal Henley Grand Challenge Cup in 2012.

A Nebraska native, Shald began his coaching career in 2009, working as a coach at the Chesapeake Boathouse in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Shald coached the Scholastic Rowing Program, focused on making rowing available to underprivileged youth.

Prior to beginning his career in rowing, Shald spent four years training and performing with the San Francisco Ballet, the oldest ballet company in the nation.