Dan Schenk was named the second Head Coach in Embry-Riddle Rowing history in December of 2021 and oversees both the men's and women's rowing programs for the Blue and Gold.
In Schenk’s first year at the helm of the programs, he guided women’s rowing to it’s highest ranking ever in the national poll (2nd) and best NCAA II National Championship finish (3rd) during the 2021-22 season. The women nabbed the Sunshine State Conference crown for the first time in program history while both the men and women helped capture the overall title at the Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championship, also a first for the program.
That success continued in Schenk's second year as the women repeated as SSC champions and returned to the NCAA II Championship for the third consecutive season where they placed fifth. The Eagles' Varsity 4 and Varsity 8 boats were a combined 24-1 against league competition in the spring. Additionally, the program swept all six SSC Boat of the Week honors and won in Eights at the SSC Championship for the first time in program history. In total, the team accumulated seven medals (three gold, three silver, and one bronze) throughout the 2022-23 season, winning JV Fours at FIRA, Eights at the SSC Championship, and DII Eights at the Dad Vail Regatta. Thanks to the program's numerous achievements, Schenk was tabbed as the CRCA Division II South Region Coach of the Year, becoming the first head coach in program history to win a coaching award.
The men also saw success as they went on to defend their title in Fours at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships and grab runner-up results in Fours and Fours 'B' at FIRA.
So far in Schenk's two seasons, he has produced two All-Americans, two SSC Boats of the Year, eight All-Conference selections, and two SSC All-Freshman/Novice Team inclusions.
In that timeframe, the program has had one College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, five Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Scholar-Athletes, nine recipients of the Division 2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award, and 18 Academic All-Conference honorees.
Schenk served as an assistant coach for the Eagles from April through November of 2021. Schenk came to ERAU after serving as the Executive Director for Baltimore Community Rowing in Baltimore, Maryland, where he managed and provided professional development for a staff of 15 coaches.
Previously, Schenk was the Assistant Crew Coach at Calvert Hall College High School in Baltimore from January 2018-May 2019. He also served as the Head Boys' and Girls' Crew Coach and the Assistant Boys' Crew Coach at Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, and the Assistant Girls' Crew Coach at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland. At Bishop O'Connell, Schenk coached the Boys' Varsity Four boat to a 2015 SRAA National Championship, while also leading the Girls' Varsity Four to an eighth-place result at the 2015 SRAA National Championship Regatta. At Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Schenk coached the Girls' Second Eight to the 2014 Stotesbury Cup Final and led the Girls' Varsity Eight to the 2014 SRAA National Championship Regatta Semifinals.
Schenk also worked at the collegiate level, serving as the Head Men's Novice Crew Coach at American University in Washington, D.C. from August 2010-May 2011. At the club level, he was the Head Coach of the Capital Adaptive Rowing Program with the Capital Rowing Club in Washington, D.C. from April 2011-September 2011. In that position, Schenk coached 12 physically and mentally disabled service members, veterans, and civilians at on-water practice and competitive regattas.
Schenk earned his Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Education Policy Studies from Penn State in 2007 and completed a Masters of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in 2013. He lives in Port Orange with his wife, Neisha, and his son, Benjamin.
