CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – On Sunday morning, the "Head of the Kurmakov" was a success. Following the race, the Riverside Boat Club along with Simmons athletics, alumnae and the Kurmakov family celebrate the life of the former Simmons Head Crew Coach, Nikolay Kurmakov.

Simmons Director of Athletics, Ali Kantor, current Sharks' Head Crew Coach Andrii Ivanchuk, and Kurmakov's eldest son, Alex, spoke glowing words about his impact. All the presenters reiterated the same message, anyone who Nikolay impacted not just his rowers, but anyone who came into contact. His humbleness and positivity was an unshakable value.

Speaking of the impact his father had on him growing up, Alex fondly remembered a time he competed in a swim race as a youth and received a coin as token for winning the race. The coin was nothing remarkable and something that could be purchased at a local convenient store, but his father kindly reminded him that the coin represented much more. It represented the hard-work and dedication towards something that was far greater than the object's actual worth. 

Kurmakov's legacy will live on at Simmons along with his two oars, which will be hung in the Holmes Sports Center. It will be an ever-present reminder of the values Kurmakov held and what we all in the Simmons community hope to always have for ourselves.