Alumni
Save the Date!
FONDR SPRING DINNER GALA
@ Blue-Gold Game Weekend in April 2025
Stay tuned for details
1978 NDRC Mixed Eight: Cox. Teri Hinz, Str. Mike Hamerly, 7-Bob Flynn, 6-Laura Rohrbach (RIP), 5-Marty Murphy, 4-Jay Ferriero, 3-Ginny Ott, 2-Kathy Dilworth, Bow-Mickey McGowan.
We, the Friends of Notre Dame Rowing, are thrilled to extend a warm invitation to our esteemed alums to row back into the fold. Your dedication, accomplishments, and narratives have not only charted the course of our storied past but also fuel the aspirations for our future.
History of Notre Dame Rowing
Notre Dame rowers have long been called to the St. Joseph River and the two lakes on the University’s campus. The first social rowing club was formed in 1867 and remained a casual pastime until 1964 when a group of young Notre Dame male athletes, desiring a higher level of competition established what would become known as the Notre Dame Rowing Club (NDRC). With the formation of the NDRC came the bonds of competition, sportsmanship, and friendship, setting the stage for rowing at Notre Dame for the years ahead.
Notre Dame began admitting female students in 1972, a year later, in the fall of 1973 Clete Graham, then the men’s club team coxswain, started coaching a women’s team as a student.
In the spring of 1973, male and female student athletes rowed side-by-side, competing against regional schools for coveted trophies and at the end of that first year, at the Midwest Sprints, the team won the first women’s trophy for Notre Dame. The ND women rowers went on to defend their Midwest Sprints Championship in 1975, representing the first undefeated women’s team and 1975’s only undefeated team at Notre Dame.
A camaraderie developed between the men’s and women’s teams that has continued to define the program decades later as evidenced when in 2015, the McConnell Boathouse, which houses both the women’s varsity and NDRC was completed with funds raised from both the men and women alums as well as the McConnell family.
In 1996 a group of female rowers from the NDRC presented a plan to athletics Director Mike Wadsworth to establish a varsity rowing program. During the 1998-99 school year women’s varsity rowing was born, marking the 26th varsity sport for Notre Dame athletics. Under the leadership of head coach Martin Stone, the program emerged on the national scene boasting many NCAA appearances. Notre Dame’s Molly Bruggeman has been a nine-time national team member and has been selected to represent the United States at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in the four.
Meanwhile, the NDRC powered on and in 2008 became one of the founding members of the American Collegiate Rowing Association. Under Men’s Head Coach Quinn Klocke, the men’s rowing team has had much success, including:
- Winning the Collegiate 4+ event at the 2022 Head of the Charles
- Placing third at the 2023 ACRA National Championships
- and was ranked #2 in the nation in ACRA’s coaches poll as of May 7, 2024.
NDRC’s Joe Kiely ’24 broke six minutes on the erg, setting the Notre Dame team record. He was selected to represent the United States’ U23 Eight that won a silver medal at the 2023 U23 World Rowing Championships in Bulgaria. This summer he will be serving his country in the United States Navy.
In the spring of 2024, the University of Notre Dame Men’s Rowing Team achieved a triumph reminiscent of the legendary “Boys in the Boat” tale, clinching a historic gold medal at the 2024 American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) Championships. Often compared to the Super Bowl or NCAA Final Four of men’s club rowing, the ACRA Championships witnessed an extraordinary race where Notre Dame’s crew overcame elite competition for a thrilling and unforgettable victory.
The race occurred over the weekend of the university’s graduation, during which several senior rowers made the extraordinary sacrifice of missing their graduation ceremony to compete for this championship. This selfless act embodies the commitment, camaraderie, and brotherhood that define Notre Dame Rowing.
From the outset, the University of Virginia (UVA) held a slight lead over UCLA, with Notre Dame trailing by just a few seats. As the race advanced to the 750-meter mark, Notre Dame’s crew fought back to level with UCLA while both teams remained behind UVA. The turning point came at the 1100-meter mark, where the three crews were neck and neck, engaging in a fierce battle down the course. Each crew responded to the others’ moves, creating a heart-pounding race.
As the boats neared the final stretch marked by the red buoys, Notre Dame surged ahead, gaining a half-boat length lead. In a dramatic twist, UCLA caught a crab with 100 meters to go, allowing UVA to move into second place. Notre Dame crossed the finish line first, with UVA trailing by 1.5 seconds and UCLA by 1.9 seconds.
This victory stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit and brotherhood of Notre Dame Rowing. The crew, consisting of Eugene Tunney (Minneapolis, MN), Wells Benson (Devon, PA), Joe Kiely (Captain, Hebron, KY), Joseph Dauenhauer (Midland, MI), Noah Barkoff (Glencoe, IL), Aidan Walsh (St. Paul, MN), Joe Jackson (Dorchester, MA), Aidan Kiley (Washington, DC), and Coxswain Bridget Murphy (Havertown, PA), and led by Head Coach Quinn Klocke, epitomized what it means to work as one, to trust in each other, and to push beyond their limits for a shared goal.
The brotherhood forged through countless hours of training, early mornings on the water, and a shared pursuit of excellence was evident as these young men and women crossed the finish line. Their victory is not only a win for Notre Dame but a legacy of resilience, teamwork, and unity.
As the echoes of this historic race resonate through Notre Dame, the Men’s Rowing Team has solidified its place in the university’s storied athletic tradition. This win is a testament to their hard work, determination, and the unbreakable bond they share—a true “Boys in the Boat” moment that will inspire future generations of Notre Dame rowers.
With the coming of new Men’s Head Coach in the Fall of 2024, the Irish began the latter half of the fall season competing in Boston at the Head of The Charles, earning a 12th place finish out of 42 in the Men’s Collegiate 8+ event, beating 18 crews from Varsity programs. That placement was third among ACRA programs, seven seconds behind Virginia (9th) and two seconds behind the University of Delaware (11th). By finishing in the top half of the event, the Irish guaranteed an entry into the event again for next year. The team also hopes to receive bids in the Men’s Collegiate 4+ and Men’s Club 4+ events next year, after being denied those entries in this year’s lottery.
The team concluded the fall racing season at the Bald Eagle Collegiate Invitational in Indianapolis, IN on Sunday, November 3, 2024. The team competed against many of the other top ACRA programs in the country, such as Virginia, Purdue University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Minnesota. Senior Joseph Daunhauer and junior Wells Benson started off the day with a victory in the Men’s Pair event, besting 2nd place Virginia by almost 18 seconds. The team took third in the Men’s Four event, finishing behind Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin (a varsity program). The Irish also took third in the tightly contested Men’s Eight event, finishing 10 seconds behind Virginia and 5 seconds behind Purdue, while edging out Michigan and Wisconsin.
The roster continues to sit at roughly four eights worth of rowers and coxswains, over half of which are “novice” and in their first year with the team. This is a testament to the hard work put in by three volunteer assistant coaches this fall:
Carson Schoen is a third year law student who rowed on the team two years ago, before spending last year studying abroad in the UK.
Noah Barkoff is a second year graduate student who was a member of the ACRA National Championship winning 1V8 last spring.
Nelson Goubeaux lives and works in the South Bend area and was a 1991 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy, where he rowed for four years.
Following the end of fall racing, the team has primarily shifted towards indoor training on the ergs, where we have already made progress as we look to build fitness to put towards the most important races still ahead of us this spring.
The storied history of Notre Dame Rowing continues.
God, Country, Notre Dame.
Row, Irish!
Our Board
Our board is composed of devoted individuals who have been the backbone of our accomplishments, each bringing a unique skill set and unwavering commitment to propelling Notre Dame Men’s Rowing to greater heights.
William S. “Billy” Mackay
Current Passion: FONDR Board Senior Chair — 2023 to Present
ND Rowing Club Coxswain: Fall of ‘76 thru Fall of ‘79
Married to Amy & we love and support out in the world Ally (24), SMC grad, her fiancé Nadine, and Carson (20). 8 members of the Mackay family are graduates of ND/SMC.
Currently employed as Managing Director, CIMA, Institutional Consultant and Wealth Management Advisor @ Merrill Lynch/Bank of America in W. Michigan: 1993-Present
Previously served our nation in the US Government in various roles and capacities from 1981-1993 in the US Congress and several Cabinet Agencies including the US Treasury-White House Complex, Washington, DC under President’s Reagan and Bush, Sr.
Hobbies: Fitness/Distance Swimming, Hunting, Fishing, Boating, Skiing, Scuba Diving, Travel, and following all ND-related sports, academic & other developments plus Detroit Professional Sports Teams
Passionate Collector & Retainer of: Friendships
Mary Bustin
Graduated from Notre Dame in 1978. I joined NDRC as a freshman, the second year of women as a part of the club. Upon graduating, worked in Software IT for local Catholic high school before joining her husband in their financial planning company.
Married to Joe Bustin (’76 and former rower), raised 4 children, 1 ND grad and 3 who are military vets.
Founding member of NDames and still an active participant.
Currently also serving as President of largest HOA in Missouri.
Bill “Pups” Landuyt
Bill is a retired international business executive who now cares for ten horses on a 72-acre farm in rural North Carolina after sunsetting a non-profit 501(c) 3 Therapeutic Horsemanship Center. Bill’s business career included public and private company financial and executive leadership roles in New York, London, and New Jersey. He is currently an independent director on the Board of Supervisors of Suburban Propane Partners LP (SPH:NYSE). Bill is married with two adult daughters.
Attending the University of Notre Dame was originally made possible by a Naval ROTC scholarship. While at Notre Dame “Pups’” most formative non-academic experience was rowing crew, which he believes was the most character-building experience in his life. Extreme individual effort in a highly disciplined team context provided a template that has proven consistently effective in Bill’s achieving personal and professional success. Learning to treat victories and defeats as important benchmarks but understanding that teamwork, honesty, and selfless effort are the more important yardsticks was a life lesson he hopes never to lose sight of.
Jay Ferriero
Jay Ferriero is the Chairman Emeritus of Capital Automotive (CARS), a specialized finance company, where he has served over 25 years. Under his leadership the company has been both publicly and privately owned, including three private equity sponsors, and became the largest dealership real estate owner in the country. In his career he has more than four decades in management of corporate banking and auto dealership lending, expertise in bank and business mergers and acquisitions, leading multi‐bank credit facilities and originating sale-leasebacks of auto dealerships in the US and Canada. A sought-after speaker for over 30 years, including multiple keynote addresses, he has provided analysis and thought leadership for the auto industry in Australia, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and throughout the US.
Jay is a 1980 graduate of Notre Dame with degrees in Finance and Sociology, where he served in dorm governance, played soccer and rowed for Notre Dame. Former Vice President and President of Notre Dame Rowing Club. Married to Lyn for over 38 years, they are blessed with 2 daughters and 6 grandchildren. Jay has been extensively involved in financial support and served on the boards of various community non-profits, including the Colorectal Cancer Alliance (nation’s largest colon cancer foundation), and as a Trustee of The Catholic University of America. Jay serves as a member of the Advisory Council for the Mendoza College of Business and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Fitzgerald Institute of Real Estate both at Notre Dame.
John Younger
John is a multifaceted entrepreneur with a remarkable journey that spans technology, business, and even automotive ingenuity. His diverse skill set and innovative mindset were evident from a young age when he crafted a carburetor for his 1967 Chevy Impala during high school, showcasing a keen understanding of math, chemistry, and physics. This early achievement paved the way for John’s academic pursuits at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a degree in Math and Computer Science, and discovered a world of new ideas and global concepts that shaped his worldview. He was also Captain of the Rowing Team.
Over the course of 26 years, John has founded and led six successful businesses, showcasing a passion for solving large problems and enhancing organizational performance. Armed with several issued patents and a proven track record of landing his companies on the Inc 500 Fastest Growing Companies list, John’s current focus revolves around artificial intelligence and recruiting. As the CEO and Mojo Master for RecruiterShare and HireMojo, he leverages AI to connect companies with skilled recruiters rapidly, streamlining the job-filling process. Prior ventures like Accolo and y/net further underscore his commitment to innovation in the recruitment space, with each endeavor contributing to his status as a thought leader in the industry. His dedication to addressing social problems through novel approaches is evident in the impact of his current ventures, RecruiterShare and HireMojo, both of which aim to make hiring processes more efficient and inclusive.
John’s educational journey extends beyond Notre Dame, with additional training in the Executive Program on Artificial Intelligence at MIT Sloan Executive Education. His role as a mentor for organizations like German Accelerator and Astia Women’s Technology Cluster demonstrates his commitment to fostering innovation and diversity within the tech industry. Additionally, John’s background as a former member of the United States National (Olympic) Rowing Team adds a unique dimension to his character, showcasing his commitment to excellence in both professional and athletic pursuits.
Richard “Dick” O’Malley
Dick received a National Merit Scholarship and the John & Mary Boyle Daley Scholarship to attend the University of Notre Dame, from which he graduated in 1980 with a BA in Economics with highest honors. At ND, he was Co-Captain of Men and Boats and 1980 Oarsman of the Year. He then pursued his law degree at the University of Illinois College of Law (JD 1983) (Law Review). Dick was a lawyer and partner at Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, where he worked for 35 years specializing in civil litigation, including software and pharmaceutical patent litigation.
Dick remembers well hearing Fr. Ted Hesburgh say at the outdoor Mass on the North Quad in the Spring of 1980, “Get competent in your field and then give back.” Dick took those words to heart. In addition to his paying clients, Dick was chairman of Sidley’s Chicago pro bono committee for 19 years and handled a wide variety of civil and criminal pro bono litigation. He received the Northern District of Illinois Federal Court’s pro bono award for excellence and Legal Aid Chicago’s Champion of Justice award for leading a team of Sidley lawyers that attained 1700 new low-income housing units in the Cabrini Green community.
He and his wife, Anne, live in Wilmette, IL and have four children, Conor, Elizabeth, Brian and Katherine. Dick and Anne are involved in Chicago civic organizations, including the Big Shoulders Fund for inner-city Catholic schools and Public Interest Law Initiative. Dick is also sculling with the Northern Michigan Rowing Club on Glen Lake.
Paul D’Allesandro
Paul D’Alessandro, J.D., CFRE, is the Founder and President of High Impact Nonprofit Advisors which is a fundraising and strategic management consulting company. With more than 30 years of experience in the philanthropic sector, Paul has worked with hundreds of nonprofits to raise over a billion dollars for his clients in the U.S. and abroad.
In addition, as a nonprofit and business expert – who is also a practicing attorney – Paul has worked with high-level global philanthropists vetting and negotiating their strategic gifts to charitable causes. He is a recognized speaker and presenter in the fundraising arena and has spoken at various leadership conferences and workshops. Paul is the author of The Future of Fundraising: How Philanthropy’s Future is Here with Donors Dictating the Terms. He is also a NonProfit PRO Advisory Board member working on expanding thought leadership in the industry. Paul received his BBA from the University of Notre Dame and a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law.
Chris Lyons
Chris serves as Group President of NAPCO Media, LLC, a division of Printing United Alliance. He has responsibility has numerous brands including NonProfit PRO, Packaging Impressions, BRAND United, Publishing Executive, Book Business and is aligned with other NAPCO Media brands: Total Retail, Printing Impressions, In Plant Impression, Wide Format Impressions, and Print and Promo. Chris is a publishing, marketing and nonprofit industry veteran who has held senior leadership positions at Kodak, Scholastic, Reed Elsevier, RH Donnelley, NAPCO Media and has launched and sold multiple enterprises, including Periscope, Lyons Media, Package Design Magazine, and RFID Product News. Chris’ first business loves are publishing, marketing and nonprofits and he has dedicated his career to learning about, inventing and sharing innovations and successes for these markets. Chris holds five patents for innovation in the field of photography and RFID integration.
Chris is a 1980 graduate of Notre Dame and rowed in 1978/79 and in the heavy weight engine room seat #4! Chris was a Sabre fencer on the ND fencing team, captain and all-American his senior year. Married to his beautiful wife Mari for 41 years and proud Dad of Mary Kate ND ’11 and ’13, ACE, and Chris Jr. St. Joseph’s University THWND! And proud Grandpa to 2 year old Liam.
Rob Wettach
Captain of Men and Boats, 1979, rowed all eight semesters then moved to Boston to continue rowing after experiencing the Head of the Charles Regatta while at Notre Dame. He joined Union Boat Club, was sponsored by fellow Domer John Bourneuf ’74 and has competed in the HOCR over 25 times. He raced at the Henley Royal Regatta at age 30 and returned to watch his son win the Britannia Challenge Cup in 2013.
Rob recently retired after 40 years with The Trane Company as a sales engineer in commercial and industrial air conditioning. He is married with two sons, four grandchildren and keeps busy volunteering in town, traveling, golfing, skiing, open water swimming, tennis, erging and of course rowing his single scull.
Rob and Billy Mackay were instrumental in forming The Friends of Notre Dame Rowing Endowment when Rob knocked on Father Ted’s door under the Golden Dome one late night in 1977 and asked him for his help. He not only wrote a letter to our alumni but gave us a large personal check which initiated our endowment.
Bart Richards
Bart is a Managing Director at Claro Healthcare, a business unit of Kaufman Hall. He helps his hospital clients with process improvement, revenue enhancements and performance improvement. Over the course of his 30+ year management consulting career, Bart has worked in the telecommunications, energy, services, distribution and most recently healthcare industries.
A competitive rower from 1986-2008, Bart has won the Master’s World Championship in the quad, Midwest Sprints LTWT 8 twice, and other Midwest races. While at Notre Dame, Bart rowed from 1987-1991. He was a starboard rower in the LTWT 8, and the Club President 1990-1991.
Bart is an avid volunteer spending time on the finance committee at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, President of the First Illinois Chapter of HFMA and now as a FONDR board member.
Kevin Mullane
FONDR Board Member, Kevin was recruited to the NDRC in the fall of his freshman year and rowed all four years.
Kevin is a Founding Partner of Net Financial Consultants, LLC (NFC). Founded on the core value of “doing what is right”, NFC provides clients with the best design solutions for the financial and risk management questions they want to solve. Kevin has been sought out to consult on Family Business, Income Protection, Estate Planning and Charitable Giving matters.
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor of Arts Degree from The University of Notre Dame, 1982
- Master of Business Administration from the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, 1987
- Chartered Life Underwriter Designation from The American College, 2003
- Group Benefits Disability Specialist designation, 2012
- Group Benefits Associate from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, 2015
Prior to joining the insurance and investment business, Kevin worked in the banking industry. Kevin also served on active duty in the 82nd Airborne Division, United States Army, as a Parachute Officer and General’s Aide. After active duty, Kevin was on the General Staff for the 76th Infantry Division as a reserve officer.
Jill Delucia
Jill Delucia in white with Jody Gormley
Jill graduated from Notre Dame in 1978, having rowed 3 years and been captain in the ‘77 – ‘78 seasons. She returned to South Bend in 1980 to coach the NDRC Womens team to winning efforts at the Head of the Charles, Midwest Sprints and MACRA regattas. She left rowing in ‘84 to pursue a career in IT.
Jill remained a lifelong resident of the South Bend area with hopes of someday rowing again. That opportunity came along in the form of the NDames, a group of women who wanted to reunite and row together again as friends. The NDames was formed in 2013, and remains active with yearly camps and races in Orlando and Philadelphia.
Rowing in South Bend became a reality when the Notre Dame rowing programs moved into a new boathouse in 2016. Jill was a founding member of South Bend Community Rowing, and remains an active rower, coach and board member.
Mike Murray
Education
Austin Catholic Preparatory School – Detroit 1960-1964
University of Notre Dame A.B. Government and International Studies – 1968
Public Service
U.S. Army National Guard 1969-1975
Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association
Director 2001-2007
Chairman of the Board 2007-2009
Advisory Committee 2013 – present
Non-Profit Activities
Friends of Detroit Rowing, Inc.
Treasurer 1984-2006
Finance Committee 2008-present
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club
Finance Committee 1990-present
Grosse Pointe Yacht Club Youth Nautical Education Foundation
Advisory Board 2009-present
Employment
Murray & Associates, P.C.
Associate, Partner & President 1969-2010
Small business and individual tax and accounting services to local and regional clients specializing In
entity startups and structuring.
Personal and business tax planning.
Qualified Retirement Plan setups and operation.
Individual Retirement planning and retirement counseling.
Estate planning and coordination with local legal counsel and probate / trust implementation.
Fiduciary tax and accounting services to individual and family trusts / personal representatives.
Independent Accountants Association of Michigan
Active member 1970 – present
Responsibilities
Macomb County Chairman – Chapter 2
State Board of Directors
Vice President
State Convention Chair
Polk & Associates PLC
2010 – present
Principal; estate and fiduciary coordinator.
Personal and business tax planning.
Personal Interests
Sailing, fly-fishing, hiking and traveling with wife of 55 years, Catherine; and spending time with his 4 children and their families including 13 grandchildren.
Michael N. Lutkus
Michael graduated from Notre Dame in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a Supplementary Major in French. In addition to rowing, Michael was in the Chorale at Notre Dame, serving as Treasurer and President and having the opportunity to tour domestically and twice in Europe.
Upon graduation, Michael returned to his hometown of Cleveland, OH and had a brief stint in Research and Development at Sherwin Williams before finding a home on the business side of Healthcare. Since 2010, he has worked as a healthcare consultant, helping hospitals and health systems with service line and enterprise strategy and physician alignment. He is currently a Principal at Sg2, a Vizient Company, and he resides in the Cleveland area.
While at Notre Dame, Michael rowed all four years and was the Alumni Relations Officer for two of his four years. He was voted Oarsman of the Year by his teammates for his efforts stroking the Varsity 8 his Senior year.
Michael played soccer and swam growing up (his parents were former Ivy league swim coaches) and he remains active supporting Ohio High School Swimming and coaching with his parents at the country club where he grew up. In the 23 years since he started coaching, the teams that Michael has helped coach have won 19 league championship meets.
Gabriella Rivera
Gabriela grew up in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. At Notre Dame, she studied Economics and Global Affairs. She became a coxswain for the men’s team her freshman year, and was the team’s President her senior year.
Gabriela graduated in 2023 and is currently attending Stanford Law School.
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Mark J. Davis
Mark attended the University of Notre Dame on a Naval ROTC scholarship, graduating in 1981. While at Notre Dame he rowed for four years, serving as team captain in 1981 while also winning that year’s Oarsman of the Year award. After graduation Mark served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps. Following his Marine Corps service, he received his MBA in finance from the Simon School at the University of Rochester and began a career in finance and operations roles in large public companies, small private companies, and venture backed startups. His work spanned multiple industries including manufacturing, media, consulting, marketing, and e-sports. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of Heroes and Horses, a Montana based non-profit using horses and wilderness to offer combat veterans an alternative solution for defining and approaching their physical and mental scars.
Mark has been a speaker at Princeton University’s Future of News conference and the Collegiate Network’s Western Division Editors Conference, and contributed the chapter on The Flow of Information to the e-Voter Institute’s book, About Face: The Dramatic Impact of the Internet on Politics and Advocacy. He has served as the chair of the San Diego Crew Classic‘s Competition Committee and as an Entrepreneur in Residence at San Diego’s CONNECT. He has also served as a board member of the Susan G. Komen San Diego affiliate, the San Diego Rowing Club, and the Fairmount Rowing Association.
Mark’s daughter Madeline was captain of the lightweight women’s rowing team at Princeton University, was a member of the United States under 23 National Team, and has coached rowing at Stanford University, The Ohio State University, and was head coach at Boston University. Mark lives in Belgrade, Montana with his wife Kris.
Don Leslie
In the fall of 1988, Don Leslie eagerly followed in his sister’s footsteps not only by attending Notre Dame but also by joining the rowing team. As a rower, he competed in the Head of the Charles in Boston and won a gold medal with the lightweight 8+ at the Heart of Texas Regatta in Austin. He majored in history and spent his last semester student teaching at John Adams High School in South Bend.
After graduating in 1992, he returned home to Buffalo, NY and taught history and mathematics at his alma mater, Canisius High School. A few years later, his career pivoted, and he has since worked as an information technology professional in a variety of roles, including software development, systems engineering, and IT leadership. Currently, he works as a Virtual Chief Information Officer advising clients in Western New York.
Don has volunteered with several organizations in the Buffalo area throughout his professional career. He served on the board of directors at OLV Human Services, a non-profit agency that provides healthcare and education services to the community. He was part of a committee that established a scholarship fund at his high school in honor of his deceased classmates. Along the way, he also coached each of his four children on their parochial school basketball teams.
While he still enjoys getting out on the water, these days he lets the wind do the work. He is an avid sailor and an active member of Sail Buffalo, a sailing academy on the shores of Lake Erie. He is also involved in community theater, both as an actor and a board member of his local theater company.
Jack Newell
NDRC Men’s Head Coach
Jack Newell joined the Notre Dame men’s team in the fall of 2024. He started rowing as a freshman at LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia in the spring of 2009. Jack then went on to row at the University of Dayton, where he graduated in 2016. After graduation, Jack coached at his alma mater for 3 years, assuming the role of head coach for the 2018-19 season. Jack then went on to be an assistant coach at Vanderbilt University for two years from 2019-2021. Most recently, he spent three years as the head coach of the men’s team at Clemson University.
Jack continues to uphold the competitiveness and traditions of Notre Dame Men’s Rowing.