Men’s Rowing Pays Tribute to Late Alumnus

The christening of a boat shell is thought to bring good luck to the rowers competing and can also serve as a tribute to athletes who have left an indelible mark on the program.

During April’s Crew Classic, University of San Diego (USD) Men’s Rowing honored one of its own — Michael Rex Tatham ’01 (BA), who died in 2011 following a tragic motorcycle accident in Bali. The Toreros christened one of their four-man shells, naming it after the late Tatham.



Tatham, a former Navy SEAL, was born in North Carolina and moved to San Diego in 1996 to attend USD. One of his most notable achievements was leading his crew to victory at the Dad Vail Regatta, a true testament to his skills and determination on the water.



Tatham graduated in 2001 with a degree in history and became a coach for USD’s novice men’s team, seamlessly transitioning from athlete to mentor.

Close friend and now U.S. Naval Commander Scott Lippincott ’04 recalls Tatham’s unwavering commitment to excellence both on and off the water. 

“A week after I completed my 2K test, he came by my room and said, ‘C’mon, just come row it again.’ Despite my protests, I conceded, and as a result, set a personal PR on the erg for the 2K. Good was never good enough for Mike.”

In 2003, Tatham enlisted in the U.S. Navy and eventually earned a spot on SEAL Team 7. He served on multiple combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was awarded two Bronze Stars and the Combat V for Valor.



In 2014, Tatham’s family and friends raised funds to name one of USD Men’s Rowing eight-man shells in honor of him. Now ten years later, the team christened yet another shell.

“This being his second boat, probably wouldn’t have set well with him as he never wanted it to be about him,” said Lippincott. “But the honor and tribute of having a shell in his name is fitting nonetheless.”

USD Men’s Rowing Head Coach Bart Thompson, reflecting on the dedication, emphasized the importance of keeping Tatham’s memory alive within the program.


“I have a ton of respect and admiration for our nation's military,” said Thompson. “The person that Mike was epitomizes the sort of selflessness and dedication to his craft that we would hope to see in all of our oarsmen.”



For Tatham’s mother Diane, this second christening stood out as a moment for the USD Men’s Rowing community to grow even closer. Although she was unable to attend the ceremony in person, she expressed gratitude for the gathering and encouraged the team to connect over the moment.

“What a humbling experience this is for this mom … It warms my heart that you are all here today along with friends who knew Mike ‘when’. Reach out to those old friends and coaches of Mike’s around you. They have stories and their best story is they called Mike their friend.”


As the “Michael Tatham” takes to the waters on the San Diego Bay, it serves as a tribute to a life lived with purpose and passion.

— Kelsey Grey ’15 (BA)