Junior Programs

Walker Hauptman – Deputy Director of Rowing & Varsity Boys Coach

Walker, a proud BIR rowing alumnus, returns to BIR with a wealth of experience – 9 years of progressive rowing and coaching. His passion for athlete development and unwavering commitment to the sport have left a lasting mark

During his collegiate years, Walker competed at Lewis and Clark College and Western Washington University, earning his place at Nationals multiple times. Most recently, as the Head Novice Coach at the University of Virginia (UVA), he contributed to one of the nation’s premier rowing programs by coaching the Novice Men’s 8+ to a national championship in 2022.

Additionally, Walker served as the Masters Coach at Rivanna Rowing Club in Virginia, Head Coach at Whatcom rowing Association, and Men’s Assistant Coach at Western Washington University.

Walker’s return to BIR is a homecoming – a reunion of passion, expertise, and dedication. As our Deputy Director of Rowing and Head Coach for the junior boys, he will inspire the next generation of rowers.

Chelsea Vessenes – Varsity Girls Coach

Chelsea is a competitive rower with not only a passion for the sport but, through her own experience and that of her children, a solid compassion for and understanding of the unique challenges of student athletes. Her talent for rowing was born on the Stanford University crew team and has continued into her daily life on Bainbridge Island where, in addition to participating at nationally competitive regattas such as US Masters Nationals, Opening Day/Windermere Cup, Head of the Lake, and Head of the Charles, you will often see her out on Eagle Harbor practicing with our BIR masters.

 

Sue Entress – Novice Girls Coach

Sue’s involvement with Bainbridge Island Rowing began 12 years ago, when her then 14-year-old son was introduced to the sport through the BIR juniors program. She fell in love with the sport and learned to row herself right here at BIR! She’s the proud parent of 3 (now adult) children (two are BIR junior alumni rowers) and has gained a deep appreciation of the specific academic, emotional and physical challenges and rewards of being a high school student-athlete. In addition to coaching, she continues to compete with the BIR masters and has participated in US Masters Nationals, Opening Day/Windermere Cup, Head/Tail of the Gorge, Head of the Lake, and Head of the Charles Regattas.

She joined the BIR Board of Directors in 2016 and was served as Board President from 2017 – 2020 before stepping into the role of BIR Communications Chair. She enjoys not only her time on the water with youths and adults, ranging in age from 14 to 87, but also the strong sense of community gained from the welcoming, inclusive program.

 

John Michael Najarian – Novice Boys Coach

John Michael Najarian began his rowing career as a high school freshman at BIR. John Michael competed at the 2015 youth nationals in the lightweight 4+ placing 10th overall. He went on to row for Washington State University where he was the Men’s Commodore for the 2019-2020 and went on to earn a B.S. in Civil Engineering. John Michael returned to WSU to earn a M.S. in Civil Engineering while serving as the Novice Men’s coach from 2021-23.

Kristen Gagnon – 8th & 7th Grade Coach

Photo and bio to come.

 

Tim Fowler – 8th Grade Assistant Coach

Tim is a Ph.D. biologist by training, spent 12 years in the Biotech industry followed by 17 years teaching Biology and Biotechnology in High School. Relatively new to rowing, Tim joined BIR in 2021 and quickly became hooked on the mental and physical demands of the sport and the friendship and community that the club provides. Given the opportunity to assist Coach Kristen with the 8th Grade rowing program, Tim jumped at the chance and now regularly joins her on Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays to teach the basics of the craft of rowing.

 

Bruce Beall – Director of Rowing, Emertius

Bruce’s coaching career began in 1974 at Boston University. In the 1980s he moved on to Harvard to work with the Varsity Lightweight Men’s crew, followed by a stint as Program Director and Varsity Men’s coach at MIT.

A subsequent move to the west coast resulted in a coaching position at UC Berkeley from 1988-92 and then as Executive Director/Director of Rowing for the first 12 years of the Pocock Foundation’s existence. Bruce coached both the US Lightweight Men’s Four at the 1983 World Rowing Championships and the Heavyweight Men’s Quad at the 1987 World Rowing Championships.

Bruce was one of the co-founders of the CRASH-B World Indoor Rowing Championships, authored the Athletes Column in the national rowing magazine for 4 years, served 2 terms on the USRowing Board of Directors, and was a member of the USRowing High Performance Committee for the 4 years leading up to the Athens Olympics.

As a coach for the BIR Varsity Boys, Bruce has taken his boys in the BIR boat to Nationals almost every year over the past decade, highlights have included the Lightweight 4+ earning a silver medal in 2013, and the Heavyweight 4+ finishing 8th in the nation in 2014. He currently organizes a college recruiting fair every summer bringing 30+ college coaches from around the country in July first to Seattle and then to Oakland.

 

Ena Nimb – Assistant Coach

Ena, a BIR alum, started rowing in 7th grade, initially focusing on sculling before transitioning to sweeping. She competed at Youth Nationals for four years before graduating from Bainbridge High School in 2013. Ena then rowed Division I at Northeastern University in Boston for four years, where she studied Business with concentrations in Finance and Accounting. She competed at the NCAA Championship every year and participated in the Royal Henley Regatta in London, marking her first international and final collegiate regatta. Ena now works remotely in Biotech and is very excited to return to the sport in a new capacity as an assistant coach for the girls Varsity team.

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Adult Programs Coaches

Grant Dull – Adult Head Coach

Grant rowed with the US National Team in the early 1980s, receiving coaching from notable figures such as Stan Pocock, Frank Cunningham, Harry Parker, Harry Swetnam, Dick Erickson, and Bruce Beall. His best finish during this period was second place at the 1983 Pan Am Singles Trials. After stepping away from rowing for several decades, Grant began coaching Juniors and Adults at BIR in 2001. He also served as President of the Board for three years. Grant continues to row his single on Sunday mornings — be on the lookout for Constant Craving.

 

Redge Campbell – Adult Coach

After a long career in the medical field, Redge returned to the water to reignite his passion for coaching. program. His current focus is the mid morning crew, known for their love of sculling in small boats and rowing in the daylight. Redge is a regular fixture at local regattas, showing up with his BIR coaching hat and his Husky pride to support his team from the shoreside.

 

Jane Stewart – Adult Coach

Jane started rowing in 1974 at the University of Washington and ended up competing for 4 years. Her first year there was the beginning of that program as an intercollegiate sport a result of pressure from Title IX. After a 30 year hiatus from rowing, Jane joined BIR in 2008. Since then she has competed in every type of boat become a celebrated coach. Jane has now been coaching BIR adults since 2022.

 

Sydney Gibbs – Assistant Coach

Sydney, a BIR alum, joined in the summer of 2012 as both a rower and a coxswain, quickly transitioning to full-time coxing in the fall. In 2014, she coxed the Women’s Lightweight 8+ to a 9th place finish at Youth Nationals. After graduating from Bainbridge High School in 2015, she coxed Division I at the University of Connecticut (UConn) for four years, earning a degree in Sport Management.

Post-college, Sydney has worked with the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Nets and currently serves as a remote analyst for a sports industry consulting company. With prior coaching experience as the Juniors’ Novice Girls coach in 2016, she is excited to return to the water with the Adult rowing program.

 

Sheelagh Carleton – Assistant Coach

Kathy Maher – Adult Learn to Row + Learn to Erg

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