COACHES

Coach Declan

Declan was born in Connecticut but grew up in the Phoenix Valley and graduated from ASU with a degree in Psychology and a Kinesiology certificate in 2024. He is one of three head coaches leading ASU Rowing and also serves as head coach of Tempe Town Lake Rowing’s Junior team. In college as a member of ASU Rowing, he became the first athlete in program history to reach the grand finals at ACRA in the single, placing fourth overall after a four-year break from sculling.

With over six years of coaching experience, he has worked with a wide range of athletes. With his junior team he tripled the roster size of his high school program, and took it from racing a single annual scrimmage to competing at regional championships. He is a USRowing certified coach with NASM certifications in personal and group training.

Assistant Coach Karly

Originally from the Midwest, Karly moved to Scottsdale, AZ in 2020 with her husband and is excited to be part of the Arizona Rowing Club community. As a coach, she brings her love for teamwork, communication, and leadership — especially in developing coxswains and enhancing boat performance.

Karly began her rowing career in 2006 as a coxswain for the Lincoln Park Juniors in Chicago, IL (now known as the Chicago Rowing Foundation). She was recruited by Indiana University, where she competed on the Varsity team from 2011 to 2015. During her time at IU, Karly coxed the Varsity 8+ and made program history by earning medals at the Big Ten Championships and qualifying to compete in the NCAA Division I Rowing Championships in 2014 and 2015. After completing her four years of eligibility, she stayed on as a student coach during her fifth year, solidifying her passion for both the sport and for developing athletes.

Karly earned her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and later pursued a Master’s in Athletic Administration and Sports Management. Her professional experience spans collegiate athletics and corporate training — she has worked in fundraising for both Indiana University and Arizona State University Athletics, and currently serves as a Training Consultant for Deloitte.

Assistant Coach Blake

Blake grew up in the east valley in Mesa, Arizona, and spent much of his early years playing golf, and had not discovered rowing until joining ASU’s Crew in 2023. With experience as both a rower and a coxswain, he has knowledge in almost every boat and every seat, getting more familiar with the sport through ASU and Rio Salado’s summer program. He has also served on ASU Crew’s officer board as the team’s first event coordinator, planning numerous volunteer and team events.

Along with coaching, he graduated in 2025 with a degree in Civil Engineering, and currently works as a transportation engineer in Phoenix. Blake brings familiarity with the program, a detail-oriented mindset, and a diverse experience to the team to assist them in the upcoming seasons and beyond.