Head Coach: John Leekley

John Leekley was named the head men's rowing coach at Washington College in the summer of 2007. Leekley, a 2001 graduate of Washington College, came to Washington from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School where he had served as head boys rowing coach since 2004.

Leekley led Bethesda-Chevy Chase to a silver medal in the men's first and second eights at the 2007 National Capital Championships. He also guided his team's junior eight and lightweight four to the finals at the 2005 Stotesbury Cup. Four of his rowers at Bethesda-Chevy Chase were named to the All-Metro first team by the Washington Post.

A USRowing Level II certified coach, Leekley spent the summer of 2007 assisting at USRowing's Under-23 Development Camp of 40 collegiate rowers trying out for the U-23 trials and USRowing National Championships. In 2003, he served as both a "Learn to Row" instructor at Thompson's Boat Center in Washington, DC, and as a rowing instructor for DC Parks and Recreation, teaching inner city junior high students basic rowing skills.

Leekley was an outstanding rower while attending Washington College. He was a two-year team captain, earning his team's Most Improved Rower honor as a junior and his team's Most Valuable Rower award as a senior. Leekley rowed in the championship varsity four at the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Crew Championships.

Leekley has continued to enjoy success in competitive rowing since graduating from Washington. At the 2006 USRowing Master's National Championships, Leekley won a gold medal in the men's four with coxswain A and AA categories and a bronze medal in the mixed four with coxswain. At the same event in 2003, Leekley took home a gold medal in the mixed four with coxswain. He has also competed in the club four at the Head of the Charles in 2006 and in the men's senior eight at the Royal Canadian Henley regatta in 2003.

Leekley earned a degree in History from Washington College in 2001 and is completing his M.A. in Liberal Studies at Georgetown University during the summer of 2007.

E-mail Coach Leekley.

Novice Coach: Ashleigh Genevich

Ashleigh Genevich joins the Shoremen's coaching staff for the 2008-09 academic year. Genevich spent four years as a coxswain for the Shoremen will attending Washington College.

Genevich capped off her collegiate career by earning varsity All-Mid Atlantic Region honors as a senior in 2008. Genevich was the coxswain of the Shoremen's lightweight four which finished fourth overall at the 2008 Dad Vail Regatta.

Genevich graduated from Washington College with a B.A. in History and complete the college's Education program.

E-mail Coach Genevich.

Director of Rowing Program
& Women's Head Coach:
Dr. Mike Davenport

Dr. Mike Davenport oversees both the women's and men's rowing programs and was appointed Washington's sixth women's rowing head coach in the summer of 1990. Prior to that, he was head coach at the University of Albany. Mike graduated from FIT in 1978, where he won several Dad Vail medals. After graduation, he was an assistant coach and was instrumental in FIT winning several national titles as well as the Dad Vail overall point trophy.

Davenport's coaching experience has extended well beyond the collegiate experience realm and onto the National Rowing Team. For two years, he was an assistant coach to the US Pre-Elite Heavyweight team. He spent the summer of 1991 in Cuba as a member of the Pan American team and was a member of the 1992-95 US World Championship teams. Most recently, Davenport was a member of the 1996 Olympic Team in Atlanta, GA.

A collegiate coach for 28 years, Davenport also serves as Washington's compliance coordinator and as an adjunct professor. Apart from his duties at the college, he wear several other hats. He is one of the founders of SportWork; has authored several books (Nuts and Bolts Guide to Rigging, Excel with the NCAA Bylaws, and Acid Reflux in Infants and Children); has spoken regularly at coaching conferences, workshops, and conventions; and is a primary educational consultant for USRowing.

Davenport also has several web sites and blogs currently in production, including ReThink Coaching, RowCollege, and MaxRigging.

E-mail Coach Davenport.

Dr. Mike Davenport