Rowing Stories, Features & Interviews

Next up In The Driver’s Seat–where we hear from the folks who keep the shells straight and the crews fast—-is coxswain Alex Catalano.

Alex coxes the Temple women’s varsity eight, and got her start in Pittsburgh with Pine-Richland High School. Last spring, Alex and the Temple 1V won the Kelly Cup in Philadelphia, helping Temple hoist that trophy for the first time since 2006.

Let’s hop In The Driver’s Seat with Alex:

row2k – What do you see as the three most important things for being a successful coxswain?
Alex Catalano –

1. High Pressure Decision Making: My dad loves to quote ‘Boys in The Boat,’ and one of his favorite lines to say is, “The coxswain is sort of like a mix between a quarterback, a cheerleader, and a coach.” In the heat of a race, you’re making critical decisions on the fly. For example, during a particularly tight race, you may have to decide whether to push for an inside turn at a bridge or stay outside and risk losing momentum or make a call to sprint earlier than expected. It’s about reading the race, understanding your crew’s capabilities, and making split-second decisions that can make or break the outcome.

2. Willingness to Learn: It doesn’t matter how long you have coxed, there is always something new to learn. Being receptive to feedback is key. Sometimes, coaching advice is tough to hear. Even the toughest coaching advice is something to reflect on, and separating your personality from your coxing is hard but necessary. I learned to reset, reflect, and adjust my approach. Over time, I realized that feedback–no matter how harsh–is an opportunity for growth.

3. Confidence & Trust: The bond you have with a crew is critical for growth. To have that bond, you must trust yourself and your rowers. Confidence is not going to be perfect overnight; it’s something that’s built over time. You must forecast and understand that trust and confidence are ongoing, not something you just “have” from the start. Get to know all the rowers on the team. Take the time see your teammates outside of practice even if it’s just a coffee date! The support and trust of the rowers and your coach are crucial.

Coxing at the Head of the the Schuylkill, 2023

row2k – What is your favorite drill to run with your crews? Any tips on how to do the drill well, for maximum effectiveness?
Alex Catalano – Honestly, I love feet-out drills. We usually do 2k or 3k feet-out every day for the rowers either on the erg or water. While they’re not always thrilled about it, it’s a great way to reset and focus on the connection between the footplate and the boat. It forces everyone to feel the boat more directly.

With drilling, it’s important to stick with the main purpose of the drill, but you have to bring it to continuous strokes to gain maximum effort. One of the best tips I’ve picked up from Temple’s coxswain development program is to make sure the crew is always aligned with the goal of the drill, and don’t hesitate to adjust it if something doesn’t feel right. Keep the rhythm flowing to maintain the momentum of continuous improvement.

Murphy Cup, 2023

row2k – What’s some of the best coaching advice you’ve received about your coxing?
Alex Catalano – Throughout my journey as a coxswain, I’ve been fortunate to receive advice and experiences that have shaped how I approach the role, both in high school and at the collegiate level.

Some of the best advice I have received came from my high school coach, Sam DiMarzio: “Do the erg workout, and then you will understand.” At the time, I couldn’t fully appreciate this advice. He required all the coxswains to do the same erg workouts as the rowers including tests such as 10Ks, 6Ks, 2Ks, biathlons, etc. It was grueling, but it taught me something invaluable: empathy. Doing those workouts alongside the rowers gave me a direct connection to what they were feeling. It helped me understand how to communicate with them better and to adjust my calls based on their physical and mental state. It’s one of the things I miss most about my time at Pine-Richland, and it continues to influence how I approach coxing at Temple.

At the collegiate level, my growth as a coxswain took another leap during my junior year, when Temple introduced a coxswain development program. One piece of advice that has stuck with me is, “Every day is race day.” It’s a reminder that every practice, every workout, and every effort is an opportunity to improve; not just for myself, but for the entire boat. This mindset has helped me focus on making the most of each day, approaching every session with the same level of intensity and purpose as race day itself.

Calling the start on Race Day, against Delaware

row2k – What is a mid-race call or move that you’ve made that you’ll remember for the rest of your life?
Alex Catalano – At the Head of the Schuylkill in 2023, we started one boat behind another Philly crew. Our goal was to catch them, even if it took the whole 5K. We passed that first crew after Strawberry Mansion, and then it was all about consistency, closing the gap on the next boat. I kept updating my crew on how many boat lengths we had to go and told them, “We’ve got to move now if we want to take the inside turn at Girard Bridge.”

When we hit Girard Bridge, our 2-seat finally made contact. Afterward, she admitted she didn’t think we’d catch them in time, but when she saw we were closing in, she had a full-on “OH SHIT” moment. Before the race, I promised her I’d yell “Huzzah!” when we crossed the finish line if we managed to catch Drexel. We ended up finishing second overall, right behind the Danish National Women’s 8.

row2k – Can you tell us anything about what you’ve learned about how to call the sprint?
Alex Catalano – It’s all about getting through to the rowers at the end when they’re in the pain cave. They’re blocking everything out, so you’ve got to really make your calls count.

There are two kinds of sprints: planned sprints and the early sprint–but crazy always wins. It’s about knowing when to hit that moment hard and keep the pressure on.

Sprinting at the island to win Kerr Cup on the Schuylkill in 2024

row2k – Tell us about the best race/practice you’ve ever had?
Alex Catalano – The best practice I had was in the fall of 2022 when I first arrived at Temple. We had a period where the 2V was beating the 1V, and even though it’s a great feeling, it really made me realize the strength of our crew. We were doing 3x4k, and the boat got exponentially better with each piece. My confidence at Temple grew from that point. Confidence truly feeds into your crew’s performance.

row2k – How about the worst race/practice you’ve ever had?
Alex Catalano – Honestly, the worst practices are when people aren’t reacting to calls. I don’t remember a specific day, but it’s frustrating when everything feels like it’s falling apart. It can mess with your confidence as a coxswain, but you’ve got to reset yourself. You can’t control how everyone else feels, and yelling won’t solve the problem. The best thing you can do is stay open to trying different approaches and, most importantly, start a conversation with your rowers about how to problem-solve together.

Racing the Navy Day Regatta in 2024

Thanks for riding along with Alex…and, remember, this column is open to all “drivers” out there, so if you are an experienced coxswain at any level–from juniors to masters–and would be willing to invite row2k to join you in your ride, just contact us here. We’d love to hear from you about what you see from the Driver’s Seat.