St. John’s Announces Head Coach of Crew

St. John’s appoints Ryan Gillis as head coach of the rowing team.

Ryan Gillis has been an integral part of our rowing community over the past 18 months, serving as the novice coach. During the 2023–24 season, the novice boys had one of the most successful seasons since the team was founded.

Gillis has been a member of the rowing community in Washington, DC, and beyond for the past 13 years as a competitor and coach at Potomac Boat Club and Winston Churchill High School. He was a walk-on rower at The Catholic University of America, leading the club team to numerous victories and supporting the team’s transition to NCAA DIII varsity status. Personal best performances include back-to-back second place finishes at the Head of the Charles and top finishes at the Knecht Cup and Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Crew championships.  

Coach Gillis stated, “I believe the responsibilities of a coach extend beyond rowing to include student formation in spirit, conduct, and good decision-making. I am committed to supporting the Lasallian mission and will continue to mentor student-athletes on and off the water. I am excited to build upon the team’s multiple successes from last season as we start this new chapter for SJC crew. In collaboration with families, alumni, and the school community, we will focus on strategic growth to raise the team’s profile in DC and beyond!”

In addition to his coaching achievements, Gillis’s professional background includes senior-level finance and operations roles in the higher education and startup sectors. When not coaching SJC crew, Coach Gillis works in fundraising at a humanitarian non-profit focused on children. He completed his undergraduate studies in finance at The Catholic University of America and holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Georgetown University.