West Potomac Coaching Staff
Welcome New Head Coach Jamie Kirk!
Coach Jamie has over 25 years of coaching experience working with high schools, colleges, and masters programs. He began rowing at Purdue University sitting bow of the varsity 8 and has continued to row and compete in various sized boats, both sculling and sweeping. He has a passion for rowing that he conveys with his positive teaching style.
LESLIE SHINNERS — (retired 2023) Lead Coach, Women
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Leslie has been a competitive sweep rower for more than 30 years, winning several Masters’ championship races with her team, Alexandria Community Rowing. Her daughters rowed at West Potomac and she coached here for three seasons from 1996–1999, taking over Head Coach duties from Chick Little in 1997–1998. Leslie returned to the team as Head Coach in the 2012 season, retiring from that position the 2023 season. She is thrilled to continue on as "Coach". Leslie was formerly a recreation administrator and adjunct professor at George Mason University’s School of Recreation, Health and Tourism. Contact: lgshinners@fcps.edu
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ALAN WEATHERLEY — Lead Coach, Men
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Alan first became involved in rowing as a WEPO Crew board member when his son was part of the team. He has rowed both competitively and for pleasure since 1999 and coached at West Potomac as well as Alexandria Community Rowing since 2009.
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STEVE DENNE — Assistant Coach
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Steve started as a crew parent when his eldest daughter started rowing for TC Williams (now Alexandria City H.S.) in 8th grade and followed her to regattas all over the East Coast. He took a novice rowing program in Alexandria in 2004 and has been rowing as a master since. He lived in Little Rock Arkansas from 2008–16 where there were not enough rowers for an eight person sweep boat. He helped lead periodic learn-to-rows and improved his sculling skills on the Arkansas River. He returned to Alexandria and to competitive sweep rowing in 2016. Four years later he took the US Rowing coaching training but had to wait more than a year to coach because of COVID shutdowns. 2024 will be his fourth season coaching West Potomac women and Alexandria Community Rowing adult sweep masters.
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SHERI GIBSON — Assistant Coach
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I’m a local girl. I went to Fort Hunt High School, joining the crew team my freshman year and continuing to row for all four years. I was the Junior and Senior women’s team captain and had the absolute pleasure of rowing for Coaches Joe Creed and Chick Little. After receiving a rowing scholarship, I rowed four years in college, also becoming the women’s team captain my junior year. One of my favorite memories in college was winning Mid-America‘s in Oak Ridge, Tennessee as a pair with my best friend from high school. Graduating college as a second lieutenant in the U.S Army, I served in the military for many years. I also continued to row on clubs and at one point coached for Robinson High School in Fairfax. After leaving the military I started working in the news business as photojournalist, which has sent me around the world. Eventually, I moved back to Northern Virginia with my husband, so we could raise our twins here. Realizing I missed coaching, I reached out to the amazing Coach Leslie Shinners several years ago and began my coaching career at West Potomac High School (formally my old school). I love working with the talented and dedicated coaching staff and the outstanding athletes of West Po. I have truly come full circle.
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ELEANOR RICHARDS — Assistant Coach
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Eleanor is a retired Nurse and Project Manager. She started rowing 11 years ago and has rowed for 10 seasons with Alexandria Community Rowing and one season with the Prince William Rowing Community. She is both a sweep rower and sculler and has raced with ACR in local, national and international regattas. She has been a volunteer assistant coach with Alexandria Community Rowing and the Alexandria Crew Boosters Fall Rowing Program, completing Level 2 Coaching Certification in 2021.
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