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MEN'S COACHES
JACK CONNORS
Head Coach
Jack began rowing in 2008 at Robinson Secondary in Fairfax, VA, and medaled at various state and regional regattas.
He was recruited to row lightweight at the University of Delaware, where he studied domestic policy. He was privileged to be a part of the winning'est crew in team history during his time at Delaware, including historic victories over teams such as Harvard, Columbia, Penn and others.
When not in the boat, he served as the team photographer and had his work featured by RowingRelated and USRowing.
He began coaching in 2016 and is proud to have worked with crews that have been successful both at the local and national level.
NATE MCCLAFFERTY
Assistant Coach
Nate began coaching in 2010. As a coach, his rowers have medaled at States, the Mercer Lake Championships, and the Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints. His rowers have also been selected to the Washington Post All-Met rowing team and many have gone on to row for various colleges including, but not limited to, University of Virginia, Mercyhurst University, William and Mary, Georgia Tech, University of Delaware, and the University of Mary Washington.
Nate began his rowing career the summer after his seventh grade year at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, VA. As a rower for T.C., he had one undefeated season, won multiple NOVA and NCASRA titles, made the grand finals of Stotesbury and Nationals several times, and was awarded the Old Dominion Boat Club Outstanding Oarsmen award his senior year.
Upon graduation, he went on to row as a lightweight for Cornell University. He had one undefeated season, won Eastern Sprints, and placed second at the Belly of the Carnegie, losing only to the other Cornell lightweight boat.
After graduating from Cornell, he went on to pursue graduate studies at Georgetown University in Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics. He graduated with an M.S. from Georgetown in 2009 and accepted a position with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
JON BARRETT
Assistant Coach
Jon began rowing in 1996 at Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA, where he earned medals at States and Stotesbury.
Upon graduation, he went across the river to row at George Mason University, where he was named team captain and was a three-time Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) finalist. He has continued to train as a member of Occoquan Boat Club and the George Mason University Alumni Club.
Jon is entering his 14th season as a scholastic rowing coach, working with all levels of crews. His boy’s 3rd eight won the State title in 2007. Two years later he led his girl’s 1st eight to the State title.
Jon served six years on the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA) Coaches Executive Committee.
He has an ACE Personal Trainer License, a CPR/AED certification, and a US Rowing Level 3 coaching certification.
WESLEY RABUSSEAU
Assistant Coach
Wes began his rowing journey in the late fall of 2005 as a novice on the Mount Vernon High School crew team as an eighth grader, rowing for five seasons and winning various regattas, an All-Met honorable mention, and an erg sprint medal.
After high school he was recruited to the Florida Institute of Technology as a member of the men’s rowing program. Underr the direction of Jim Granger, he found success ranging from a Head of the Charles course record and a sponsored trip as a competitor to the Royal Henley Regatta as a member of the F.I.T. men’s eight.
Wes began his coaching career on the men’s side for Robinson Crew. After assisting for one season, he led two more seasons, capping off his tenure with the VASRA Novice Championship in 2016.
AZIM KHODJIBAEV
Assistant Coach
Azim grew up in Alexandria, VA and began rowing for Alexandria HS Titans in 1999 and the Old Dominion Boat Club in 2001. He started coaching with the Alexandria Crew Boosters’ summer and fall programs in 2001.
After college graduation, Azim joined the Titans’ women’s team as an assistant coach. He is proud to have coached crews to two state championships in the Women’s 3rd Eight event. After, Azim was the women’s head coach at Westfield and an assistant at Robinson.
From 2017-2021, Azim coached the men's novice program at his alma mater in Alexandria, VA. He is proud to have led the Titan boys to a bronze finish in the novice eight event in 2019 and gold in the fourth eight event in 2021. He is a USRowing Level II certified coach and likes to focus on developing and refining the fundamentals of competitive rowing.
WOMEN'S COACHES
CAROL DINION
Head Coach
Carol came to McLean in 2016. Under her leadership, both the freshman 8 and 1V have finished 5th at SRAA nationals. Carol's boats have won several State Championships. Carol was the Yorktown girls head coach from 2008-2015 and helped build the program to its current success, with medals at States, Stotes, and SRAA's. Prior to Yorktown, Carol coached the novice girls at TJ. Additionally, Carol was named Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year in 2010.
Carol has been a US junior national sculling coach, OBC select junior sculling coach, and has worked with master athletes at NVRC and Occoquan Boat Club. Currently, Carol oversees the High Performance Junior and U23 seasonal programs at Potomac Boat Club. Carol's U19 and U23 sculling boats have earned medals at Summer Nationals and Head of the Charles. Carol loves to be a student of our sport, holds a Level 3 coaching certificate (high performance). She is CPR/First Aid certified and a registered YIN yoga teacher and Level 1 CrossFit trainer.
Carol continues to race and place in singles and doubles at local events as well as masters nationals, FISA Worlds, the Head of the Charles. Carol has a BS in biochemistry from Virginia Tech, where she was a varsity swimmer, a masters in teaching from the University of Virginia, and an Ed. D from UVA in Leadership. Carol has been with Fairfax County Public Schools for 26 years and has worked as a teacher, administrator, and a science/math resource specialist.
When not coaching, attending clinics, rowing or racing herself, Carol can be found practicing yoga, lifting barbells, or attending local sporting events.
(let's go Caps, Nats, and Commanders!)

PAM ROBERTS
Assistant Coach
Pam is a USRowing Level 2 certified coach who started rowing as a senior in high school in 1977. She was on the first girls crew for Fort Hunt High School (now West Potomac) and loved it immediately, but life circumstances did not allow her to return to the sport until 1985. She has never looked back. Pam is a current Board member and former President of Potomac Boat Club, and is also a member of Occoquan Boat Club. Pam has coached at West Potomac and Langley High School.
Pam loves coaching juniors and has a particular interest in novice and newer rowers, where there is the biggest opportunity to have an impact on the athlete and instill a love for the sport. She is excited to coach at McLean High School alongside Coach Carol, who mentored her during her coaching certification training.