Patrick Kington -- SDRC Head Coach/Women's Varsity

Patrick started rowing in 1996 and has been coaching since 2004. He has coached at the scholastic, junior, collegiate, and international level. Kington has coached at SDRC since 2014, and has worked with the novice men, varsity men, and varsity women, becoming head coach of SDRC in 2017 and the varsity women in 2018

Gordon Schmidt -- Men's Varsity Coach

Catherine Sheffler -- Women's Novice Coach

Catherine began coxing in 2011 as a walk on for UCSD's Novice Men's team. As the Varsity 8 coxswain on the Women’s team the next 3 years, she led her team to a 3rd place victory at NCAA National Championships in 2013, and finished out her collegiate carrier with All-WIRA First Team honors, and the Coach’s award. She joined the SDRC’s Masters in 2016, and began coaching for the Novice Women in 2018.

Will Gleason- Men's Novice Coach

Will started rowing in 2016 at Newport Aquatic Center and had a victorious run in the Varsity 8+ in his time competing for the club winning multiple events at Youth Nationals and the San Diego Crew Classic. After high school, Will took a gap year and coached Novice rowing with his dad, Pat Gleason, at NAC. Will continued his rowing career at the University of San Diego where he became team captain in 2021. Will started coaching at SDRC in the fall of 2023.

Kenza McKerrihan- Women's Assistant Coach



Azja Czajkowski - Women's Assistant Coach

Azja began rowing in 2015 with the SDRC juniors program. She attended Stanford university, where she won the 2023 NCAA championships and was awarded 2023 NCAA athlete of the year. Azja has extensive international racing experience, most recently at the 2024 Olympic Games where she placed 4th in the women’s pair. 



Clare Botterill- Women's Assistant Coach



Sam Prado- Men's Assistant Coach

Sam started her rowing career in Mexico City at the age of 10, where she was part of the junior national team until senior year in high school. Sam moved to Dallas, TX in 2015, where she was part of her club’s first W2- to place in the top 8 at Nationals in 2017 and 2018. In 2019, she was named her high school team’s Novice Head Coach and in 2020 obtained the club’s first 4 regional titles for the Novice/U17 Women’s team, and two podium finishes at Nationals the same year. In 2021, Sam established the U17 Women’s program at Dallas United and qualified their first 8 to Nationals, where they placed in the C final.

Sam started coaching the SDRC Varsity Men’s squad in 2022. She has coached across multiple regions and at collegiate/junior levels. 

She will complete her Masters in School Based Clinical Counseling at the University of San Diego in 2025.

“I am excited to continue at SDRC and give back to the sport that has given me so much. I hope to continue growing our team and making an impact in the Southwest Region.”

Drew Ellis - Men's Assistant Coach



Scott Walsh- Middle School Head Coach

Scott Walsh has 30 years’ experience rowing, and more than a few seasons as a coach. As a rower at Yale University, Potomac Boat Club, and San Diego Rowing Club, Scott has raced at U.S. Nationals, U.S. Olympic Trials, the Head of the Charles, and the Henley Royal Regatta. He also raced on the Republic of Palau’s outrigger canoe team. Scott coached the novice men’s crew at George Mason University; coached youth rowing, soccer, and basketball in D.C., Palau and San Diego; and served as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout troops in San Diego and Ethiopia. He has learned from some of the best coaches in the country, including SDRC’s own Pat Kington. He is excited to be a part of SDRC’s fantastic team of youth coaches and to share his love of rowing with SDRC’s middle school team. 

Lucas Stroud - Middle School Assistant Coach

Lucas started rowing in 2014 at Los Gatos Rowing Club. He then rowed collegiately for 4 years ending his career at USD. He currently rows for the SDRC masters squad with whom he won the Open 8+ category at Club Nationals. His passion for coaching has brought him from personal training to junior rowing.