Paul Savell

Biography

Paul Savell enters his fourth year as the Director of Rowing for both the men's and women's rowing teams. In 2025, he resumed his role as Head Coach of the Drexel women's rowing team, where he is set to begin his 19th season. Since joining Drexel in 2007, Savell has led the Dragons to unprecedented national success at some of the most prestigious regattas in collegiate rowing, including the Henley Women's Regatta, Henley Royal Regatta and Dad Vail Regatta. In July of 2007, Savell was named the Drexel Director of Rowing after serving as the head crew coach at Lehigh for nine seasons. Savell was instrumental in the development of the Mountain Hawks' program from a team of 30 to more than 100 members. Prior to Lehigh, Savell coached at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, N.J. for four seasons, and worked as the men's novice coach at Georgia Tech. Savell is also an accomplished rower. He starred at Holy Spirit in High School before attending the University of Wisconsin, where he rowed stroke in the varsity eight for two seasons. He also captured a National Championship at the IRAs in the straight four and earned a bronze medal in varsity four at the IRAs. Savell graduated from Wisconsin with a degree in engineering and earned his master's degree in business administration from Lehigh in 2001. Savell resides in Haddon Township, N.J. with his wife, Janet, and their three sons, Jack, Joe and Brendan.