John started his rowing career on the Hudson River with F.D. Roosevelt HS and rowed sporadically with the Marist College team. After a lengthy absence—during which he flew helicopters for the U.S. Navy and was an investment advisor for Morgan Stanley—he returned to rowing in 2004 at CRI.

In 2005, John moved to Princeton, NJ and joined Carnegie Lake Rowing Association, where he was elected to the Board of Trustees and chaired the Competition and Safety committees. He moved back to Boston in 2006 and joined Riverside Boat Club—where he rows competitively, mostly in the pair—and started coaching, serving as the Girls 3V coach for Boston Latin School. John has coached many programs at CRI. He has been Girls Varsity Assistant Coach, Head Coach of the Novice Boys and has coached Summer Youth Skills Camp, Adult Learn to Row, Competitive Women, and various outreach programs. He was previously the Head Coach at Brookline High School, Brandeis university, and Mystic Valley Regional Charter School. John is a US Rowing Level II certified coach, is CPR and first aid certified, and has completed US Rowing's Safe Trailer Driving course.