Atlanta Junior Rowing Association Promotes Coaching Staff and Adds Key Hires

ATLANTA (January 9, 2015) — The Atlanta Junior Rowing Association (AJRA) announced today several key changes to its coaching staff including the promotion of Skye Elliott to Head Coach for all AJRA crews.

Mr. Elliot’s role is expanded to now cover both the duties of head coach as well as primary responsibility for the Varsity Women’s crew. He moves into this role after spending the last 4 years leading the AJRA Varsity Women’s crew to 8 Southeast Regional Championships and 2 Top Ten Results at Youth National Championships. In addition, 14 athletes coached by Mr. Elliot were recruited to NCAA collegiate programs. He is US Rowing Certified at Level II. Prior to joining, AJRA Mr. Elliot worked as a coach at the US Junior National Development Camp and spent 11 years coaching Varsity and Novice levels.

AJRA also added Robert Canavan as the new Varsity Men’s Head Coach. Mr. Canavan came to AJRA from Georgia Tech where he was the Men’s and Women’s Head Rowing Coach for the last 21 years. During this time he led his teams to five National Championships and earned ACRA Coach of the Year honors in 2009 as well as Dad Vail Coach of the Year honors in 2010. His coaching accomplishments include the development of 4 National Team Members and leading his teams to 35 Dad Vail National Championship Medals, 3 IRA Medals, 4 Head of the Charles Medals and 7 ACRA Medals.

AJRA also elevated Novice Men’s Head Coach Sarah Low to Program Manager. Her additional responsibilities include administering regattas and team communication, coordinating practices, and managing the boathouse. Ms. Low has coached with AJRA since 2012, leading her crews to 2 Southeast Regional Medals, a top ten finish at the Youth National Championships, and an undefeated season for the Novice Men’s 8+ crew in 2014. She previously coached the Varsity and Novice Women’s crews at Westminster School in Atlanta and the Juniors and Masters teams at Sammamish Rowing Association. Ms. Low is also US Rowing Level II Certified.

Also joining AJRA for the spring season is Jordan Smith as Novice Women’s Head Coach. Jordan was most recently head coach at Emory University Rowing where he lead the team to multiple success including gold in the 2009, 2011 and 2012 SIRA and strong placements at Dad Vail and ACRA regattas.

“I am thrilled to be able to promote our tenured coaches like Skye and Sarah into senior roles reflecting the success they have achieved for AJRA, but also to be able to have such an accomplished coach as Rob join the AJRA family,” said AJRA President Ethan Milley.

AJRA is a non-profit club sport organization dedicated to providing rowing opportunities for high school students throughout Metro Atlanta. Now in its 27th year, AJRA has more than 200 rowers from middle schools and high schools throughout the Atlanta area and is the largest and most successful high school rowing program in Georgia.

www.ajracrew.com