University of California Athletics

Vanessa Tavalero rejoined the Golden Bears' coaching staff in August 2024 as associate head coach after spending the 2011-2019 seasons as an assistant coach Cal. She served as a volunteer assistant coach her first year on the staff before being elevated to assistant coach. Prior to her return to Berkeley, she was an assistant coach at Saint Mary's from 2020-2022. 

Tavalero is a graduate and former rower at Washington, where she also was an assistant coach from 2010-11. She rowed on the Husky varsity eight boat beginning in her sophomore campaign.

Rowing as a senior in 2000, Tavalero led the Huskies to a second-place team finish at the NCAA Championships, also claiming second in the varsity eight grand final. That boat also won the 2000 Pac-10 Championship and was victorious at the Henley Regatta. The conference championship was the third of three straight Pac-10 titles for Tavalero and the Huskies in the varsity eight.

During her freshman season, Tavalero also won the Pac-10 championship in the freshman eight.

Tavalero's efforts at Washington helped the Huskies garner back-to-back team NCAA Championships in 1997 and 1998, her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Tavalero also served as an assistant coach at UC Davis (2009-10), the novice coach at Sacramento State (2007-09) and the novice coach for Capital Crew (2004-07).

Prior to attending Washington, Tavalero was a member of the U.S. Junior National team from 1994-95.

A native of Fair Oaks, Calif., Tavalero graduated from Washington in 2000 with a degree in metals and jewelry.