Coach Paul rowed at Syracuse University (New York), Alexandria Community Rowing and Occoquan Boat Club. Coach Paul has previously coached the Westfield Crew Team, and the Mount Vernon Crew Team for 14 years. He is widely known and respected for his dedication and commitment to the sport of rowing, particularly at the Junior/Scholastic level, and shares his passion with the athletes he coaches. Coach Paul's philosophy -- rowing is not merely about getting ready for the next race, but to help athletes develop the characteristics and skills necessary for success in life.

As an added bonus, Coach Paul is a nationally recognized US Rowing Referee and supports everything from local regattas at Sandy Run to Scholastic Nationals and even US National Team events! As such, he has seen up close the best rowing athletes in the country.

Coach Scott has over 20 years of coaching experience and we are thrilled to have him accept the position as our Head Men’s Coach. Coach Scott joined Warhawk Crew in 2022 coaching the Men's Novice and Freshman team to earn 10 medals in the 2022 season including the Men’s Freshman 8+ Championship Trophy earning First Place at the Virginia State Rowing Championships and placing 4th place at SRAA Nationals.

Coach Scott began his coaching career in 2003 at W.T. Woodson High School where he served as Men’s Freshman Coach until 2006. Coach Scott continued to coach in Northern Virginia until moving to Hilton Head Island where he joined Hilton Head Crew and served as Head Coach 2016-2019.  He has also coached for Bainbridge Island Rowing. Coach Scott, a USMC Veteran, also continues to give back having created a training program for Wounded Warrior Marines with the United States Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion Camp Pendleton. We are so glad to have him on our team.

Coach Mel began her rowing career with South County High School where she rowed for two years and upon graduation, she was recruited and rowed at George Mason University. 

More recently Coach Mel discovered a passion for coaching where she serves as a developmental coach for Resilient Rowing.  She currently coaches at the Master's Level as Assistant Novice Coach for Prince William Boating Club and also as an assistant coach for TBC Racing.

Coach Mel joined the Warhawk Crew coaching staff in 2022 and led the Men's 3V to earn Silver in the State Championships, qualifying and then competing in the Scholastic National Championship.

Coach Alexis is a JMHS and Warhawk Crew Alumnus.  In college, Alexis rowed for Robert Morris University.  After graduation, she served as an Assistant Rowing Coach at RMU and held an administrative position at the Three Rivers Rowing Association. 

Coach Alexis joined the Warhawk Crew coaching staff in 2023 and led her first novice women’s team (W-N-4+) to a state championship trophy along with the men's novice team (M-N-4+) for a bronze medal!  In the scholastic off-season, Alexis coaches for Resilient Rowing. 

Coach Connor joins Warhawk Crew for his third season on the Occoquan, bringing with him a history of ambition and success. Coach Connor began his coaching career at Fairfax High School, where he served as Men’s Assistant Coach and later Men’s Head Coach until 2023. In his first season as assistant, he coached the Men’s Junior 8 to a first-place trophy at the Virginia State Rowing Championship and earned a bid to SRAA Nationals. He went on as Head Coach to run the program’s first Men’s Varsity 8 in over a decade. 

Beginning his rowing career with Lyman High School in Orlando Florida, Coach Connor rowed for four years and served as captain. Notable achievements include a bronze medal at the Florida Scholastic Rowing Association Sweep Championship in the Men’s Freshman 8 and a bronze medal at Stotesbury Cup Regatta in the Men’s Junior 8.

Coach Connor moved to Northern Virginia in 2018 to attend George Mason University and is graduating with his MPA in the Fall. His passion for the sport and calling to mentorship has led him back to the rowing community and to Warhawk Crew this season. 

George Dowell joins Warhawk Crew for his first season on the Occoquan!

Coach Dowell grew up rowing in Northern Virginia at TC Williams High School (Alexandria City Public School). During his time rowing in high school his teams won 5 Northern Virginia rowing championships and he awarded All-Met honors by the Washington Post. He attended the University of Washington where he was a member of their 1997 National Championship team. Following college, he coached rowing at the Gow School outside of Buffalo, NY.  After two years of coaching and teaching, he went onto law school and currently practices law in McLean.  In addition to coaching the rowing team, Coach Dowell also coaches teams for VYS and VYI.  Both of his sons currently attend Madison.

Justin DeGaetano bio coming soon...