Building Speed Through Culture: The Journey of Coach Weston Cole and NAC’s V8 Crew

The Background Behind Coach Weston’s Journey (0:30)
Coach Weston Cole got into rowing after a concussion ended his middle school football and water polo days. His mom encouraged him to try rowing, inspired by his dad’s college experience. He joined Long Beach Junior Crew as a high school freshman and quickly fell in love with the boathouse community. By senior year, he helped the Varsity 8 win a national title—a moment that solidified his belief in hard work and discipline. He later won another national championship with Orange Coast College before transferring to UC San Diego. After graduating, he began coaching at Long Beach and found fulfillment in helping young athletes grow.

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Choosing Coaching Over the Conventional Path (4:10)
At first, Weston didn’t see coaching as a long-term career. But the positive influence of great coaches in his life—and the impact he was having on athletes—shifted his mindset.
When the Long Beach women’s head coaching position opened, he jumped in and led several strong seasons. Eventually, the opportunity to lead at Newport Aquatic Center came along, and Weston hasn’t looked back.

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Why NAC? (5:50)
Leaving Long Beach was tough, but NAC’s history and potential drew him in. Weston saw a program that could become a junior rowing powerhouse and committed to building it from the ground up.

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Establishing Culture and Commitment (7:50)
In his first summer, Weston observed team dynamics and focused on building buy-in from the younger athletes. He used tools like Crew Lab to connect athletes across JV and varsity levels, reinforcing a shared sense of accountability and purpose.

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The Importance of Leadership and Culture (11:00)
Coach Weston believes true speed comes from leadership, not erg scores. He emphasizes a service-first mindset and team-led accountability as the foundation of NAC’s identity. This year’s group has embraced that philosophy, creating a connected and high-performing culture.

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Making History at Regionals (14:20)
NAC’s Varsity 8 made program history with their first-ever regional championship win in Sacramento. Weston credits the win not to size or power, but to trust, discipline, and unity within the crew. The JV boats also medaled, signaling program-wide growth and momentum.

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Meet the 2025 NAC Women’s V8 Boat (17:10)

Coxswain – Grace Galipeau (Senior, Corona del Mar)
A three-year NAC veteran, Grace is calm under pressure and trusted to make the right calls when it counts.

Stroke Seat – Sydney Chait-Walter (Senior, Los Alamitos – Committed to Brown)
A powerful and consistent stroke who sets the pace and drives the boat forward every day.

7 Seat – Allegra Steege (Senior, Long Beach Poly – Committed to Harvard Lightweight)
Known for her grit and toughness, Allegra brings relentless effort and backs up the rhythm with heart.

6 Seat – Katie Dahl (Senior, Millikan – Committed to Tennessee)
Big, strong, and composed—Katie stroked the U.S. 4- at worlds and anchors the engine room.

5 Seat – Lily Gonzalez (Junior, Millikan)
The only junior in the boat, Lily is a fierce competitor with relentless drive and focus.

4 Seat – Maeve Proud (Senior, Newport Harbor – Committed to Kansas)
A second-year rower with positive energy and grit, Maeve also competed in the demanding pair event at regionals.

3 Seat – Eden Smith (Senior, Newport Harbor – Committed to UCLA)
Team captain and culture award winner, Eden leads by example and supports the team in and out of the boat.

2 Seat – Kiana Banta (Senior, Newport Harbor – Committed to Boston Lightweight)
Small in size, huge in heart. Kiana brings reliability, energy, and a selfless attitude to the crew.

Bow Seat – Bridgette Knapp (Senior, NAC – Committed to Tennessee)
Rowed the single this year and transitioned into the V8 with poise, strength, and technical skill.

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Prepared for More Than Racing (28:10)
Coach Weston talks about the lessons this team is learning—purpose, process, and putting team first will last far beyond rowing. He sees each of them becoming better athletes and stronger people because of it.

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Goal for Nationals Coming Up (30:50)

The team feels confident that staying true to their process gives them a strong shot at medaling at nationals. Their focus is on leaving no stone unturned—examining every factor that contributes to boat speed and doing their best to bring it to life. For Coach Weston, success isn’t defined by winning alone, but by knowing they gave everything they had.

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Special thanks to Coach Weston Cole for sharing his story and to the entire NAC Women’s V8 crew for representing what hard work, leadership, and team culture are all about. Thank you to Maddie Byrd for hosting this first great episode! Best of luck at nationals Coach Weston!