Coach Felix DeCarvalho shares his athlete-centered approach to building rowing programs and discusses the challenges facing scholastic rowing today.
8 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
2026e7 - Pat Clary - Port Rowing
Pat Clary’s conversation is a story about how rowing grabs people, humbles them, and turns struggle into purpose. From discovering the sport as a seventh grader, managing Type 1 diabetes, working multiple jobs to afford rowing, and eventually building programs with limited resources, Pat’s path shows that rowing is not only about medals or speed. It is about discipline, belonging, resilience, and the people willing to keep showing up. His coaching philosophy centers on making athletes feel seen, valued, and part of something bigger than themselves, whether they are in the 1V, 3V, novice boat, or just learning to pull together. The biggest takeaway is simple: great coaching is not just pedigree or technical knowledge; it is passion, connection, humility, and the ability to build a culture where every athlete believes they matter.
17 Apr 2026
2026e6 - Jeremy Michalitsianos - Montclair
In this episode, Jeremy of Montclair Rowing shares how growing up in a high-performance UK system—where young athletes trained alongside Olympians—shaped his belief that “success breeds success.” He explains the importance of a visible pathway, arguing that athletes perform better when they can clearly see what’s required to reach the next level. Jeremy contrasts the UK’s strong post-collegiate club system with the U.S., where rowing often drops off after college, creating a major structural gap. At Montclair, he built a winning program by immediately shifting culture from “we can’t” to “we can,” while prioritizing athlete development and experience over conventional prestige (like always chasing the 8+). His approach emphasizes belief, consistency, and building systems that allow success to repeat.
Inside a recent episode
2026e8 - Felix DeCarvalho - St. Peters Prep
Published 14 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] You know, I'm so torn with that lightweight category because, you know, I've I've rode lightweight for many, many years, but, you know, it's sad to see it go, but I also having some lightweights even this year, and they've had some lightweights over the past couple of years that I've coached. […]
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