Coaches

Rowing for Everyone

meet the coaches

Head Coach

Gene Kininmonth

Gene founded High Point Rowing Club at Oak Hollow Lake in 2012.

Today Gene serves as head coach of Triad United and race director for the North Carolina Rowing Championships and the High Point Autumn Rowing Festival. He is a former Australian national team oarsman and has over 20 years of coaching experience in the sport of rowing. In addition to serving as head coach at several prestigious universities such as UCLA and the University of Southern California, Gene has coached several Olympic oarsmen and six U23 World Champions.

development coach

Rob Varner

Rob joined Triad United in 2022 and is our specialist coach focusing on developing the team's middle school and novice rowers.

"When my daughter began looking for a new sport to try gong into high school, I jumped at the chance to introduce her to rowing. I explained to her no experience was needed and now she's hooked!" says Coach Rob.

Rob is a former rower and grew up sweep rowing in Northern Virginia during high school. He was a part of multiple state medaling boats and his Senior 8 boat placed 7th at the Stotesbury regatta.

We are so excited that Rob will be returning to coach with us again in the Fall.

Summer Coaches

Sarah McKinney & Hannah Edwards

Sarah and Hannah are recent graduates of the High Point youth program and know the team better than anyone. With a wealth of experience at both sweep and sculling, their successes as rowers ranges all the way from middle school championships to top 10 placings at USRowing's youth nationals.

As 2023 Spring captains of the team they understand the value in allowing the rowers to take ownership of the program.

Sarah and Hannah have a shared friendship from a young age which makes them the perfect coaching duo for our summer program before they depart for college at UNC Charlotte and UNC Wilmington this Fall.