New Coaches for the Masters Women's Team

Head Coach Don Heckenstaller (right) and Assistant Coach Jeff Lowe (left) are the new coaches of the Masters Women's team. Well...they're not that new - they've been coaching the women since January 2008! They are filling the shoes of Donald Webber-Plank who served as the women's team coach for 7+ years and still coaches the Masters Men's team.

Don Heckenstaller has 30+ years of rowing experience and 14 years of coaching experience. He most recently was the assistant coach for the varsity & novice women at the University of Pittsburgh during their 2006/2007 season. Prior to that he coached at North Allegheny High School from 1993 – 2006. During his tenure, his boats have achieved numerous gold medals at prestigious national regattas. In 2006 he coached a Junior Women’s quad to a win at the Junior National Trials and they represented the United States in the Junior Worlds in the Netherlands. As a rower he received many medals including three Gold Medals in the Lightweight Single, and four Gold Medals in the Mixed Double at Master’s National regattas. As a college rower he was a member of the Freshman 8+ at Florida Institute of Technology that won a Gold Medal at the prestigious Dad Vail regatta.

Jeff Lowe has 20 years of coaching experience. He was the Head Coach for the Duquesne University Women's Team in 1986, when the program was established as a club sport, through 2002. He is responsible for shaping that program into the highly successful & competitive program it is today.

The women's team is proud to have Don & Jeff as our coaches. We are looking forward to working with them for many years to come!