Meet the IRL Course Instructors!

Learn in a Passionate Community

At CRI, we are passionate about our mission, to invite individuals of all backgrounds, abilities and experience to grow through rowing. The IRL supports that mission, and we invite all coaches to the IRL to learn in this dynamic environment.

Our instructors are drawn from preeminent universities and the robust local rowing community. They are recognized leaders in their field selected specifically for their subject matter expertise, and they are eager to share knowledge, and be accessible and collaborative with the fellows.

Fellows work with coaches with proven track records in producing outstanding athletes and teams. Each member of the IRL team is focused on delivering an education that equips coaches with the most effective coaching methods, strategies, and interventions backed by a comprehensive base of knowledge of the sport.

Learning for IRL fellows goes beyond the CRI community. While fellows learn from daily interactions with CRI staff, they are also matched with top coaches across the country for mentorship. Through scheduled mentor meetings they receive guidance, ideas, insight and support.

Instructors

• Brenda Balenger, BA New England College. IRL 2012. Executive Director Manchester Rowing Alliance. Co-Founder, Lake Sunapee Rowing Club. Regional Site Manager AbbVie.
• Adam Balough, MS, MBA University of Pennsylvania, University of Vermont, Bentley University. Head Boys Rowing Coach, Nobles and Greenough School
• Dan Bechard, Ph.D. Western University. Head Coach Men's Rowing at Western University, Research Associate - Hudson Boatworks
• Galen Bernick, BA Mercyhurst University. IRL 2019. Head Varsity Boys Coach and Boatman at CRI
• Brent Bode, MS Smith College Sports and Exercise Science, Kinesiology Graduate Student at the University of New Hampshire. Former Head U17 Girls Coach at CRI
• Lily Carbeck, BA UMass Amherst. Associate Head Coach, Tufts Women's Rowing, Head U17 Girls Coach at CRI
• Brian DeDominici, M. Ed, Savanah College of Art and Design, Framingham State University. Program Director and Girls Varsity Coach, Brookline High School, Head Masters Coach Cambridge Boat Club
• Nicole Farnsworth, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, CPT - Harvard University, University of the District of Columbia, Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition. Sports Dietitian at Boston Children's Hospital, Dietary Clinician at Laura Moretti Nutrition LLC
• Nick Goode, MS Exercise Science - Ohio University, Barry University, Doctoral Candidate Sport Science at East Tennessee State University, Director of Performance Cadence Cycling Centers
• Anna Jurascheck, MBA, M.Ed - Duke, Harvard University, Boston College
• Katie Lane, MS – University of Vermont, Fordham University. IRL 2012. Hudson Boatworks Logistics and Communication Manager
• John Lindberg, BA – Brown University, Director of Rowing, Union Boat Club
• Erin McConnell McInerney, D.P.T. University of Connecticut, University of Notre Dame. IRL 2013. Physical Therapist, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Back on Track Physical Therapy
• Laura Moretti, M.S., R.D., L.D.N. – Boston Children’s Hospital
• Nelia Newell, MSW, MBA - Harvard, Columbia University School of Social Work, Columbia Business School. Master Lecturer at Boston University Questrom School of Business
• CB Sands-Bohrer, MBA - Smith College, INSEAD. Assistant Coach Cambridge Boat Club Juniors
• Tom Siddall, BA - Fairfield University. IRL 2019. Tufts University Men's Associate Coach, Para High Performance Coach, USRowing Boston Training Center Coordinator
• Olivia Wyatt, M.A., CMPC - University of Denver, Tufts University. Doctoral Student in Counseling Psychology, Sport & Performance Psychology at Boston University

Guest Lecturers and Mentors

• Ted Benford, Executive Director, CRI
• Caryn Davies, MBA, JD, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist
• Carlos Dinares, Rowperfect
• Yaz Farooq, Women's Head Coach, University of Washington
• Jesse Foglia, Head Coach, USRowing Training Center
• Eric Gehrke, USRowing Men's U19 National Team Coach
• Andrew Hess, Assistant Coach Men's Rowing, Columbia University
• Chris Kerber, Assistant Women's Coach, Syracuse University
• Kyle Mendolo, JD - Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, UMass Lowell
• Steven Miller, M.P.A. – Harvard School of Public Health
• Lizzie Mitchell, Head Women's Rowing Coach, Pacific Lutheran University
• Claire Ochal, Associate Head Coach and Director of Recruiting, Syracuse University
• Chris Richards, Head Coach, Belmont Hill School
• Brittany Sobieraj, JD Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance, MIT
• Catherine Starr, Co-Head Coach and Junior Program Coordinator, Greenwich Water Club
• Gregg Stone, Coach of 2016 Olympic Silver medal Women's 1x, 2021 Women’s 2x
• Lisa Stone, Head Coach of Winsor School for 24 years, Olympian
• Sam Warren, Associate Head Coach, Columbia University Women's Rowing
• Dan Walsh, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist. Walshrowing.com
• Izzi Weiss, Founder - Inside Turn: A Coxswain Consultancy, University of Virginia coxswain and U23 World Championship gold medalist
• Tom West, BSME, Team Engineer, US Para Rowing Team and CRI Para High Performance Coach
• Jon Wortmann, M.Div. – Carleton College, Harvard University, #1 Best-Selling Author

 

---

 

The Institute for Rowing Leadership is accredited at the highest level (Level 5) offered by USCCE-NCACE andis the only accredited US Coaching Education Program in rowing, ever.