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

Coach Gordon comes to coaching after a twenty year career as a Navy SEAL which included multiple combat tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and the Middle East. Gordon rowed at the U.S. Naval Academy from 1999 to 2003, competing in Navy's top eight-oared crews both as a freshman and for three years with the varsity, seeing a best finish of 6th place at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association national championship. After retiring from the Navy in the fall of 2023, Gordon joined SDRC's masters program and has been a member of four masters national champion eight-oared crews in his first year back to competitive rowing. Eager for the challenge of making a boat that he's not rowing in go fast, Gordon assumed the head coaching position for SDRC's junior men's varsity program in the fall of 2024.

Catherine Sheffler -- Women's U17 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.

Sam Prado- Men's U17 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



Lucas Stroud - Women's 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.

Enoch Cleckley - Men's Assistant Coach

Enoch recently relocated from Washington, DC, to San Diego. Enoch has been rowing and coaching for most of my life—starting at TC Williams (yes, the Remember the Titans movie school!) in high school and then continuing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Since 2010, Enoch has coached with multiple programs, including serving as head coach for three different teams, one of which earned me Coach of the Year. Hi boats have brought home championships and medals at the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships, earned multiple Stotesbury and SRAA finals appearances, and even snagged a bronze medal in the Freshman 8 at the Head of the Schuylkill in Philly. In 2024, Enoch switched over to the club circuit, where he guided a U17 4 to an A Finals appearance at Youth Nationals. When he's not coaching, he enjoys playing travel Kickball and many other sports. 

Clare Botterill- Women's Assistant Coach



Scott Walsh- Middle School Head Coach

Scott Walsh has 30+ years’ experience rowing, including experience coaching juniors, college and masters rowers. In addition to coaching at SDRC, Scott is San Diego State University’s Head Rowing Coach. As a rower at Yale University, Potomac Boat Club, and SDRC, Scott raced at Nationals, Olympic Trials, the Head of the Charles, and the Henley Royal Regatta. Previously, Scott coached novice men’s crew at George Mason University; coached youth rowing, soccer, and basketball in D.C., Palau and San Diego; and led Boy Scout troops in San Diego and Ethiopia. 

Natalie Stehly - Middle School Assistant Coach

Natalie Stehly started rowing in the year 2017 at ZLAC rowing club. She moved to SDRC to finish out her high school rowing career and in her senior year was awarded the Most Inspirational rower on her team. She continued her rowing path by rowing collegically for two years at Orange Coast College and ended her season at Nationals rowing a single. Natalie’s passion for coaching comes from her love of sports, enjoyment of being on a team and always wanting to motivate everyone and see her team succeed.