Rowing Resume

Coaching Philosophy: To develop the whole person in addition to the competitive athlete. I believe that athletics can teach a person a great deal about themselves and offers a great opportunity for mental and physical growth. My goal is to help each person I work with achieve their best performance in all areas of their life, with rowing as a vehicle for doing so. Winning is a secondary goal to the achievement of the athlete’s personal goals, but with the understanding that the athletes together are striving as a whole to reach the highest level of competition possible.

Overview

  • Coaching since 1988, including four years assisting Charlie Butt Jr. at Washington-Lee HS., and head coaching positions at Washington-Lee HS, Wakefield HS, Holton-Arms School, Gonzaga College HS, West Springfield HS, and with the Potomac Boat Club.
  • Instructed all levels of junior rowing (novice to varsity level athletes, men and women, and lightweight rowers) and adult and pre-/elite athletes.
  • Experience in working with athletes facing demanding life events such as anorexia nervosa, pregnancy, and depression.
  • Proficient in coaching both sweep and sculling techniques, rigging, boat repair, and boat trailering.
  • Author, The Down and Dirty Guide to Coxing
  • Mid-Atlantic Rep, USRowing Safety Committee, 2022-present
  • Chairperson, Potomac River Safety Committee, 1998-present

Coaching Positions

Private Coach for Coxswains and Rowers

  • Work one-on-one with individual high school-age and adult athletes to develop specific skill sets based on their level of ability (both rowing and coxing).

Head and Varsity Asst. Women’s Coach
Washington-Lee High School: 2013 – 2018

  • Worked with the varsity women’s squad at all levels to prepare them for national-level competition.
  • Developing a strong team/booster structure, organization, and team-positive dynamic alongside the rest of the coaching staff and crew booster organization.
  • Focused on raising the team to the highest level of organizational excellence possible.
  • In 2012, I worked as an assistant Varsity Men’s coach, which allowed me to re-familiarize myself with the program.

Varsity Women’s Coach
West Springfield High School: 2003 – 2005

  • Worked with the varsity women’s squad at all levels to prepare them for national-level competition.

Assistant Coach
U.S. National Team Lightweight Women’s Quad Selection Camp: 2001, 2002

  • Involved with identifying and selecting athletes for possible U.S. Senior National Team selection.
  • Charged with supporting the head coach (2001- Steve Peterson, 2002- Matt Madigan) and helping determine athlete fitness, technical skill level, and mental readiness.
  • Other duties included coaching the prescribed sculling style, rigging, photography, and local logistical support.
  • Both selected crews earned the right to compete for the U.S. and medaled (2001—silver, 2002—bronze) at the World Rowing Championships.

Asst. Varsity Coach
Washington-Lee High School: 2000 – 2002

  • Coached the varsity women of this established team to develop them into national-level competitors.

Founder and Head Coach
Gonzaga College High School: 1995 – 1998

  • Responsible for organizing and developing a start-up high school squad of 45 high school-aged young men that grew to 60 members.
  • Taught rowing techniques and training principles to all program levels (freshman through varsity).
  • Educated students on land and water safety in addition to teamwork and sportsmanship.
  • Worked with the school administration and parent booster organization to create a solid student-athlete tradition within the program. Also involved in the development of budgets and other future projections.
  • Oversaw hiring assistant coaches and selecting, purchasing, and maintaining all water and land equipment.
  • Represented the school at local, rowing-related, organizing, and development meetings.

Coach

  • Holton-Arms School: 1994; developing this second-year program.
  • Wakefield HS: Women’s Head Coach, 1993; lead boys coach, 1991-1992; worked to develop this fledging program from its start under W-L HS to an independent and stand-alone program.
  • Potomac Boat Club: Jr. women and men’s coach, 1987-1996. 
  • Washington-Lee Crew: Jr. men’s assistant coach, 1988-1992.

Select Coaching Career Highlights

  • Co-Coach 2017 W-L Women’s Jv8, Stotesbury Cup bronze medalists
  • Coach 2013 PBC Women’s Masters 40+ 4+, HOCR silver medalists
  • Coach, 2003 West Springfield Hs. V8, NCASRA 3rd place finishers
  • Co-coach, 2002 W-L Hs. V8 Stotesbury Cup finalists; Lwt8 VA State and NCASRA bronze medalists
  • Co-coach, 1999 Potomac Boat Club Women’s Champ 4+, Head of the Charles 5th place finishers
  • Coach, 1996 Gonzaga V. Lwt. 8: Northern Virginia Championships- bronze medalists, Stotesbury Cup Regatta- 4th, Scholastic National Championships (SRAA)- 5th
  • Coach, 1990 Potomac Boat Club Jr. 4x: American Rowing Championships bronze medalists
  • Asst. Coach, 1989 Washington-Lee Hs. Men’s V8: Northern Virginia Championships- gold medalists, Stotesbury Cup Regatta- silver medalists, Scholastic National Championships (SRAA)- gold medalists, competitors Henley Royal Regatta

Education and Certifications

  • B.A., George Mason University. Psychology, January 2001
  • A.A., Northern Virginia Community College, Fine Arts Photography, May 1995
  • United States Rowing Association, Level III (2002), Level II (1999) & Level I (1991) Coaching Certification.
  • SafeSport certified, present.
  • Red Cross First-Aid and CPR-certified
  • Concept II certified Indoor Rowing Instructor, 2001

Other Activities

  • Employed by United States Patent and Trademark Office, Design Patent Primary Examiner, GS-14,  2006 – present
  • Author of the Down and Dirty Guide to Coxing (www.thecoxguide.com), 2000 – present
  • Mid-Atlantic Rep, USRowing Safety Committee, 2022 – present
  • Chairperson, Potomac River Safety Committee, 1998 -present (www.potomacriversafetycommittee.org)
  • Chairperson, Security Committee, Potomac Boat Club, 2010 – present
  • Chairperson, Reopening Committee- COVID-19, Potomac Boat Club, 2021 – 2022
  • Board of Directors, Arlington Boathouse Foundation (secretary) 1998 – present.
  • Co-President, Washington-Lee Crew Alumni and Friends, 1998 – present.
  • Columnist for Rowing News magazine (“Coxing Essentials”), 2009 – 2017
  • Speaker and presenter at the 2002 US Rowing Convention
  • Presenter at the 2015 Rowing Talks at Washington College (MD) hosted by Mike Davenport