DEDICATED COACHES
Who We Are
The staff at Coastal Virginia Community Rowing has come together from various backgrounds to create and expand interest in the sport of rowing across the community; engage participants from our community, ensuring inclusion and diversity; safely pursue teaching, training and competing at all rowing levels; and support and develop athletes for competition at the local, regional, national and international levels.
Get to know the amazing team at Coastal Virginia Community Rowing!
MELISSA KUCH
Juniors and Masters Coach
Coach Kuch is the founder, Head Coach, and member of the Board of Directors of CVCR. She was the former Head Coach for Cox HS Crew Club. In 2016, their team qualified both a men's and women's team boat for the National Championships.
Coach Kuch was a scholarship athlete at George Mason University where she served as co-captain for the women's rowing team. After graduating with a degree in Physiology, her rowing career flourished. Coach Kuch won gold in the lightweight single and double at the 2002 USRowing National Championship. She also won bronze in the lightweight single at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She went on to compete with the US National Rowing Team in the women's lightweight quad at the 2005 FISA World Championship in Gifu, Japan.
Coach Kuch is a software systems analyst with a degree in exercise science.
ILIANNA ROMANZO
Coach Ilianna started her accomplished rowing career with Saratoga Rowing Association in New York. Her favorite rowing memory is from her senior year of high school when the men's four she was coxing won the 2019 Youth National Championship by .01 seconds! Coach Ilianna was a recruited D1 coxswain at Old Dominion University for four years. After graduation in May 2023, Ilianna found a passion for coastal rowing and started training with Next Level Rowing. She has competed internationally in Lima, Peru (Copa America) and Bartletta, Italy (World Championships).
BRIAN MCELLIGOTT
Coach Brian gained a love for rowing by witnessing the life-changing impact the sport has had on his two children and their teammates. He currently serves as the CVCR board president, assistant coach, boat driver, equipment repairman, regatta itinerary creator, and travel logistics coordinator for the team. Coach Brian is also an active member of the Hampton Roads Rowing Club.
Coach Brian's career in Naval Special Operations (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) spanned 22 years; before that, he was active duty in the military. He is now retired and works tirelessly to help CVCR and the local rowing community.
PAUL NIESEN
Coach Paul began his rowing journey by competing on the Yorktown High School team for five years. He was then recruited to row for Columbia University's lightweight team where he competed for all four years until his graduation in 2001. He has passed his love of rowing on to two of his children who are currently CVCR athletes. Coach Paul actively coaches for the club both on and off the water.
Outside of rowing, Coach Paul is a full time minister with the Church in Virginia Beach and a father of four.
