Incoming Head Coach Scott Rowe introduces himself and his career thus far:
Rowing has been a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. Like many, my journey began in high school, following in the footsteps of my older brother. While I was arguably a better rugby player at the time, I quickly fell in love with rowing—the discipline, the camaraderie, and the pursuit of a shared goal resonated deeply with me.
I continued rowing through university, where I also began coaching. No matter where life or work has taken me, I’ve always found ways to stay connected to the sport. One of the most meaningful chapters of this journey was teaching my three children—two daughters and a son—to row. My son, Miller, learned to row in the warm waters of Dubai, and all three rowed competitively through school. This period reignited my coaching involvement after several years overseas. Today, my eldest daughter remains involved in school rowing, and Miller is currently a member of the Senior A squad competing in World Cups I & II.
For the past seven years, I’ve been focused on building the squad at KAND. It’s been an organic progression, growing as athletes with aspirations for state and national representation have joined the program. Success has a way of attracting ambition, and the environment we’ve created reflects that.
From early on, I recognised that making crews is about more than numbers—it’s about moving boats. While erg scores indicate power and fitness, they don’t always equate to speed. My approach prioritises technical proficiency and boat-moving ability. I constantly reinforce to athletes that rowing well turns erg seconds into boat speed; rowing poorly just makes you fitter.
I place strong emphasis on time in small boats, rotating combinations to enhance feel, rhythm, and adaptability. This not only refines technique but also improves seat racing performance. Fundamentally, I believe in hard work and strive to match, where practical and possible, the training volumes of National Training Centre squads.
Scott Rowe – Head Coach
