KSBC Coaching Staff 2006
Head Boys Coach--Eric Houston
Eric Houston took over as the Director of the KSBC in 1995. Since the spring of 1996 KSBC boys, under the direction of Coach Houston, have medaled in the NEIRAs six times highlighted by a gold medal and an undefeated season in 2001, and a Gold Medal in 2006. The 2001 crew finished fourth at Nationals while posting the best time of any schoolboy team. Coach Houston has traveled to The Henley Royal Regatta three times (1999, 2001 & 2006) and raced in Belgium and England in 2004. The oarsmen that he has coached have continued rowing after Kent and have attended some of the most prestigious schools in the country. Coach Houston began his own rowing career here at Kent in the spring of 1977. He rowed in the club crew program for Joel Kelly and was in the boat that won the club championship. He continued rowing and gained introduction into the KSBC as he became a part of the first boat during his sophomore year under Hart Perry. During his senior year (1980) Coach Houston was a member of the Kent boat that won a gold medal at both NEIRA’s and Stotesbury which was then the National Championship regatta. Following Kent he moved on to Trinity College where he rowed in the first boat Frosh heavyweight boat that had an undefeated regular season and finished third at the Dad Vail’s. He later rowed in the varsity heavyweight boat for three years and captained the Trinity Crew during his senior season. After graduation he returned to Kent and became Hart Perry’s assistant coach for 11 years before taking over the reigns of the program. Coach Houston is also a member of the Kent School Science Department where he teaches regular, honors, and AP Biology. His wife Barb is also on the Kent Faculty, and he has two children Lindsay, a Kent student, and Taylor.
Boys Assistant--Andy Schneider ⇑ back to top
Andy Schneider begins his fourth season coaching at Kent and after three years of workign with the third boat, he will take the reigns of the second boat in 2007. In each of his first three years coaching at Kent his boats made the final at the NEIRA regatta, and this is highlighted by a Gold Medal in 2006. This was the first Kent boy's third boat to win the NEIRA regatta. Coach Schneider began his coxing career right here at Kent on the Housatonic River. As a student at Kent, he coxed several talented boats that tallied impressive, including three Connecticut State Championships and three appearances in the Grand Finals of the NEIRA. He continued his career at Rutgers University as a coxswain for the Varsity Heavyweight program. At Rutgers, he helped the Scarlet Knights rebuild their program for success. His Freshman Eight finished the 2001 season with a victory in the Petite Finals at the IRA National Championship. By his senior season,Rutgers was ranked in the top 10 fastest crews in the country. Coach Schneider also earned a silver medal at the C.R.A.S.H. B's World Indoor Rowing Championships in February of 2004. He currently teaches English and resides in North Dormatory.
Assistant Boys Coach--Todd Gentry ⇑ back to top
Todd Gentry begins his coaching career at Kent School in 2008. Coach Gentry is a 2007 graduate of Rutgers and will coach the third and fourth boys boats this season.
Head Girl's Coach--Garrison Smith ⇑ back to top
Garrison Smith is in his fourth year at Kent, and begins his tenure as the Head Girl's Coach in 2007. During his first three years at Kent Coach Smith led the boy's second boat. Under his direction the second boat won a silver medal at NEIRA's in 2005, and then followed that up with a victory at the NEIRA regatta in 2006. Before coming to Kent, he was the Head Coach at the Taft School in Watertown, CT. Coach Smith helped to build the Taft program into one that was competitive on the NEIRA fours league finishing fourth in the first boat racing in 2004. His crews won the Dupont Cup in 2002 and 2004 made the Finals of the Founders Regatta in each of the last three years finishing third in 2004. Before coaching at Taft Coach Smith was an assistant at his alma mater Northfield Mt. Hermon where he coached the novices. Coach Smith began his rowing career in college, where he was a four year rower at Yale University. He rowed in the first freshman boat, spent two years in the JV and then raced in the varsity as a senior. His freshman boat finished sixth at Eastern Sprints, he won the San Diego Crew Classic at the JV level in 1993, and he won the Head of the Charles in 1994. In addition he was a double gold medalist at the US Olympic Festival in 1993. At Kent Coach Smith teaches Ecology and Honors Biology, and is an assistant coach for the Varsity Hockey Team. He lives in off campus with his wife Laura, his son Ashton and his daughters Lindsay and Augusta..
Assistant Girls Coach--Kat Sullivan ⇑ back to top
Kat Sullivan began her coaching career here at Kent where she became the assistant girls coach in 2001. She has primarily coached the second boat and during her tenure, they have won multiple medals at the NEIRA regatta, highlighted by gold medals in 2002 and 2005. Coach Sullivan traveled to Henley in 2005 where she helped coach the first boat to a second place finish in the Henley Woman’s Regatta. Coach Sullivan is a Kent graduate in the class of 1994, but did not begin her rowing career until she attended Syracuse University. At Syracuse she was a coxswain in the women’s program for three years. In other responsibilities here at the Kent School Coach Sullivan is the Director of Admissions, works in Middle Dormitory South, and is an advisor to seven students.
Ashton Betancourt begins his fourth year at Kent and will help to coach both the third girls boat in 2007. Coach B began coaching here at Kent in 2005, and quickly established himself as a great mentor by leading each of his two third boat crews to bronze medal finishes at the NEIRA regatta. He is a student of the sport and is always striving to learn more and craft his novice rowers into successful KSBC competitors. He started his own rowing at the St. Paul's School as a fourth former and rowed for three years winning medals at the NEIRA each year. This was highlighted by a gold medal during his fifth form year. Coach B. continued his rowing career in college where he rowed in the lightweight program at Yale University for four years. While there he rowed in the first freshman boat and was later part of a crew that won the overall points trophy at the Eastern Sprints. Coach B. teaches in the Mathematics department here at Kent, lives in Middle Dorm, and runs the girl's club rowing program in the fall.
Assistant Girls Coach--Cathy You ⇑ back to top
Cathy You began her coaching career last spring at the Kent School. She has worked with all three girl's boats last season, but will be taking the reigns of the fourth boat in 2007.. Before coming to Kent, Coach You was a two year rower at Tufts where she rowed in the first freshman boat and then the JV boat as a sophmore. During this season she was the stroke of the New Endland winning JV boat, and helped Tufts to a team championship. Here at Kent Coach You is in the Mathematics department, and coaches girl's cross country. She lives in an off campus house with her husband and two children.