Meet Our Coaches
Coach Scott McDonald joined Shen Rowing in April 2015 as a Modified coach, summer camp coach, and Masters coach. Now he currently serves as a head coach in the competitive program.
Scott rowed at F.D. Roosevelt High School in Hyde Park, NY, and Marist College, and like Coach Clayman
, way back in the days of wooden boats and oars. He is a Shen Rowing parent with his oldest daughter Maya rowed at SUNY Binghamton and Layne rowing at Marist.
Coach Scott works in the renewable energy field and holds degrees in Environmental Science and Mechanical Engineering.
Coach Dave Clayman joined Shen Rowing and started to lead the Modified Program. Now he is coaching our competitive program.
Coach Dave was the head coach at SGS Rowing for a 12 years. Prior to coaching at SGS, Coach Dave coached at Schenectady, Niskayuna, and Aqueduct Rowing. He has 20+ years of coaching experience and 40+ years of rowing experience going back to the days of wooden boats and wooden oars.
Coach Dave continues to row his single and club boats with Aqueduct Rowing Club. When he isn’t rowing or coaching rowing he takes out his sailing vessel Lady Bug and is an equally accomplished sailor. Coach Dave is a retired Mechanical Engineer.
Cybill joined Shen Rowing in 2023 and works with both the modified and competitive programs.
Cybill’s first experience rowing was junior year of high school, in 2002, where she was utilized as a coxswain, rowed in numerous seats, and competed in the boy’s 8+. During the summers, Cybill would row with the Rondout Rowing Club as well as in her own ocean single.
Cybill rowed bow in the lightweight girls 8+ at UAlbany for two years. Cybill’s first experience coaching was teaching her dad how to row in a Learn to Row fundraiser for her college team. Most recently Cybill coached for the Kingston High School Varsity Crew Team for eight years.
Cybill currently teaches English as a New Language for Shenendehowa East High School.
Scott Clark is currently a middle school Science Teacher at Shenendehowa and has 20+ years of Middle School teaching experience. While Scott recognizes his limited personal experience with rowing in a shell himself, his wealth of experience as an educator has made him adapt, learn, and become a critical member of our Modified Program. Scott has seen first hand over many years how being on a rowing team builds a child’s character, confidence, self comfort, and develop strong friendships with their teammates that last a lifetime.
Scott has had a love of water in all forms - swimming, scuba diving, sailing, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, water skiing or rowing throughout his life. Scott has had two daughters row for Shen Rowing.
Scott currently holds a US Rowing Certified Level 1 Coach and holds a regularly updated CPR/First Aid certification. Additionally he has run a leadership summer program for Shen Central Schools on a yearly basis.
Maria began coaching for the Shenendehowa modified program in 2016 following her graduation from BHBL High, where she rowed for 6 years.
Since then, she has been studying and working in the field of graphic design; and has coached modified, varsity and masters programs on both the Mohawk River at home and Meadow Lake in New York City.
Though she spends most her time farming and honing her craft, she can't be kept away from the water long, and often enjoys rowing with the BHRA Master's team.
Helen joined Shen Rowing in 2023 as a coach for the modified program.
Helen is a Shen Rowing Alum herself, having graduated in 2017 after rowing in both the modified and varsity programs.
Helen has also rowed on the collegiate club level with Stony Brook University Rowing, from which she graduated in 2021.
Helen currently works as an engineer in the semiconductor industry, and enjoys swimming, hiking, and (of course) rowing in her spare time.
Interested in joining our coaching staff?
We are always looking for talented and passionate coaches to join our team! Please fill out the interest form below.
We provide rowing training and competition opportunities to more than 40 youth rowers attending the Shenendehowa School District, which is one of the largest in the state. We are located 20 minutes south from Fish Creek in Saratoga. We can offer you competitive pay, training and a fun working environment.
Our Spring Season runs from March 6, 2023 - June 9, 2023. We also run several camps during the summer which are an excellent way for high school rowers to begin their coaching career and build their coaching resume. Contact us for more information!