A champion oarsman in his younger days, John J. Mulcahy founded the first Fordham crew in 1915. The fledgling program established itself on the Harlem River, operating from the headquarters for the Atalanta Boat Club, of which Mulcahy was president.
 
Rowing as an amateur in an age of professional oarsman, Mulcahy captured numerous national and international titles. He distinguished himself as the first U.S. Olympic rower to win a national rowing title, having taken the double sculls championship in 1891. Thirteen years later, he and partner William Varley captured gold and silver medals at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis in the double sculls and pair without coxswain events.