John M. Bancheri - (4th year, Charleston ‘83), Head Rowing Coach/Varsity
Coach Bancheri is a passionate leader who began his rowing career in 1973 at the Atlantic City High School and Viking Rowing Club. He serves as a mentor for aspiring coaches and in 2002 was selected as the Dad Vail Coach of the Year. Coach Bancheri holds a bachelor’s degree in History and Area Studies from the University of Charleston in 1983 and a Master’s degree in History from Marietta College in 2004. Coach Bancheri has built successful programs at Wichita State, the University of Charleston, and Marietta College. In 2005, Coach Bancheri was invited to be the Senior Heavyweight Men’s Head Coach at the Penn A.C. Rowing Club in Philadelphia. His crews have won five gold medals in the Men’s Frosh 8+, two gold medal in the Men’s JV 8+ and four bronzes in the Men’s Varsity 8+ at the Dad Vail. At the first ACRA National Championship in 2008, he led the men to a bronze medal in the Men’s Varsity 8+ and a gold medal in the Men’s Varsity Lightweight 4+. He led the entire team at Grand Valley to a second place finish at the Dad Vail and the teams point championship at ACRA. Coach Bancheri is US Rowing level III certified and Power Boating certified. Coach Bancheri lives in Allendale with his wife Jill and their two sons.

Bob Stanage – (2nd year, IUPU at Ft.Wayne ‘83), Varsity Asst. Coach
Coach Stanage has been involved with rowing in the Grand Rapids area for over ten years. Bob was the Men’s Head Coach at Forest Hills Central HS from 1998-2003. In 2004 he took over as Head Coach at East Grand Rapids HS, a position he held for three seasons before coming to Grand Valley. Coach Stanage also serves as Director of Summer Programs for the Grand Rapids Rowing Association. Coach Stanage is US Rowing level III certified and Power Boating certified. Last season he coached the Novice Women to an undefeated season including Dad Vail Gold and ACRA National Championship in the Novice 8+. Coach Stanage also works full time as a quality engineer for a small company in Walker. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Maureen and they have two children and a granddaughter.

Mark McIlduff - (3rd year, Dayton’06), Asst. Coach Men
Coach McIlduff was a member of the University of Dayton Men’s Rowing team for four years, served as Captain for two of those years, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry and Psychology. In 2004, Coach McIlduff earned a bronze medal in the Men’s Varsity 4+ at the Dad Vail Regatta and in 2005 and 2006 he lead his team to their best-ever finishes in then Men’s Varsity Heavyweight 8+. Coach McIlduff is completing his Masters of Science in Biostatistics. Coach McIlduff is US Rowing Level II certified and US Power Boating Certified. Last season, Coach McIlduff led the novice men’s team to the Dad Vail finals.

Ola Nwabara - (2nd Year, Purdue’07), Asst. Coach Women
Coach Ola graduated from Purdue University in 2007 after a successful academic and athletic career. There she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Minor in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources. She also competed four years for the Boilermakers on the rowing team and was a part of the Dad Vail and S.I.R.A gold medalist Women’s Novice 8+ in 2004 and Dad Vail bronze medalist Women’s JV 8+ in 2007. For the 2006-2007 season, Ola lead the team as the club’s president. She is completing her Masters of Science in Communications at Grand Valley. Coach Ola is US Rowing Level I certified and US Power Boating Certified. Last season, Coach Ola assisted Coach Stanage in the undefeated season of the Women’s Novice 8+ and also coached the Women’s Varsity 2+ to the Dad Vail finals.

Keith Bouwman – (6th year, Grand Valley), Asst. Coach
Coach Bouwman is entering his fifth year of coaching with the women’s team. He rowed for three years at Grand Valley, represented the team at the Dad Vail Regatta and the ‘02 Henley Royal Regatta in England. Coach Bouwman has completed USRowing Level II certification along with First Aid and CPR/AED certification from the American Red Cross. Keith also is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker serving the greater Grand Rapids area.

James R Scott P.E.S. – Advisor
Dr. Jim Scott is an Associate Professor here at Grand Valley. He got his Bachelors, Masters, and P.E.S. all at Central Michigan University, and also got his Certificate-Sport Studies from Moscow Central Institute of Physical Culture & Sport. Dr. Scott has been involved with the rowing team for a very long time and even has a boat named after him for all of his support.