Coaches
Men's Varsity Coach - Dan Newman
Phone: (850) 321-0738
Email: Dan@leoncrew.org
Dan begins his seventh year as Men’s Varsity Coach at Leon Crew. In addition to coaching at Leon, he serves as Executive Director of the Tallahassee International Rowing Association, an organization seeking to build a rowing and paddling complex on Lake Talquin; and serves as Franchise Consultant for Velocity Sports Performance, the national leader in athletic performance training.
Prior to working with TIRA and Velocity, Dan served as Political Director at the Florida Chamber of Commerce. He received his Master’s Degree at FSU in Applied Political Science and his undergraduate degree in History at Princeton University. Dan attended Leon in 1993-94; however, he graduated from Sarasota High School in 1995. He is a native of Richmond, Virginia.
Rowing & Coaching Highlights
- Leon Crew Men’s Varsity Coach 1999-2000, 2002-2007
- 2006-2007
- SRAA National Championship
- Junior Men’s 8+, Gold Medalist
- Light Men’s 4+, Bronze Medalist
- Southeast Youth Championship
- 1st Men’s 8+, Gold Medalist
- Light Men’s 4+, Gold Medalist
- 2005-2006
- SRAA National Championship
- Senior Men’s 8+, 4th Place
- 2nd Men’s 8+, 4th Place
- Southeast Youth Championship
- 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Men’s 8+, Gold Medalist
- FSRA State Championship - Team Points Award
- 2nd & 3rd Men’s Eight – Gold Medalist
- Florida Sprints League Championship, Inaugural Champion
- Head of the Chattahoochee – Gold Medalist
- 2004-2005
- SRAA National Championship
- Senior Men’s 8+ - 6th Place
- FSRA State Championship
- 2nd Men’s 8+ - Gold Medalist
- 2003-2004
- SRAA National Championship
- Junior Men’s 8+ - Silver Medalist
- Head of the Chattahoochee – Gold Medalist
- 2002-2003
- FSRA State Championship
- 2nd & 3rd 8+ - Gold Medalist
- 1999-2000
- US Rowing Youth National Championship
- Men’s Youth 4+ - Silver medalist
- Head of the Chattahoochee – Gold Medalist
- Florida State Rowing Association President 2006-2007
- Southeastern Youth Rowing Committee 2004-2006
- USRowing Junior Men’s Committee 2003-2007
- Rutgers University Men’s Frosh Coach 2001-2002
- Princeton University Men’s Varsity Assistant 2000-2001
- Princeton Crew 1995-1999
- Three-time Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges Gold Medalist
- Two-time International Rowing Association National Gold Medalist
- Sarasota Scullers 1994-1995
- Heads of the Charles, Schuylkill, and Chattahoochee Gold Medalist
- San Diego Crew Classic, Gold Medalist, Course record holder
- FSRA Men’s Varsity 4+ Gold Medalist
- Leon Crew 1993-1994
- FSRA Men’s Varsity 8+, Silver Medalist
Men's Varsity Coach - Brandon Wilson
Phone: (850) 510-4331
Email: Brandon@leoncrew.org
Brandon began rowing as a sophomore at Leon in 1999. Coming over from the football team he quickly moved up to the varsity team. As a senior, Brandon was named captain of the mens squad and was offered a scholarship to Jacksonville University.
While at Jacksonville Brandon rowed on the JV8 his freshman year as well as the four. His JV4 placed 1st at the Florida State Championships, and the JV8 placed 5th at the Southeastern Championships. As a sophomore at Jacksonville Brandon moved up to the Varsity eight. During winter workouts Brandon suffered a knee injury, but stuck it out for the rest of the spring and made the Varsity eight. At the end of the season Brandon decided to discontinue rowing and go to Florida State.
In the 2004-2005 season the Leon Crew mens team needed another coach around to help out and run some practices. Brandon fit perfectly. After the 2004-2005 season Brandon was promoted to Freshman coach. He is very enthusiastic and excited to be working with his own squad this season. He comes to Leon Crew with an abundance of rowing knowledge that he has gained over the years, having been coached by seven different coaches.
Women's Varsity Coach - Brett Tillotson
Phone: (850) 321-0732
Email: Brett@leoncrew.org
Brett starts his ninth year of coaching with Leon Crew, this season with the women's varisty team. A native of Kansas City, he moved to Tallahassee in 1996 and took up rowing his senior year. He graduated from Leon in 1997 and Florida State University in 2002 with a Bachelor's Degree in Humanities. In addition to coaching, Brett is employed as a Firefighter/EMT by the state of Florida.
Coaching Highlights:
- Men's Novice Coach 1999-2000
- Men's and Women's Novice Coach 2000-2003
- Men's Freshmen Coach 2003-2005
- Assistant Coach 2006
- Women's Varsity Coach 2007
- 2002 Women's Freshman Four State Champions
- 2003 Men's Freshman Eight FSRA Scholastic Championships Gold Medal
- 2003 Men's Freshman Eight FSRA Youth Rowing Championships Gold Medal
- 2003 Men's Freshman Eight SRAA National Championships Gold Medal
- 2004 Men's Freshman Eight FSRA Youth Rowing Championships Gold Medal
- 2007 Women's Junior Eight SRAA National Championships 4th place
Men's Novice Coach - Nate Scott
Phone: (850) 574-9872
Email: Nate@leoncrew.org
Nathan was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida and began rowing his junior year (2001-2002) at Leon, after a knee injury made it difficult to continue playing soccer. Crew was originally a means to keep in shape until next year’s football season; however, it quickly became apparent that rowing offered more potential. Nathan focused efforts on rowing and by his senior year, coached by Dan Newman, he rowed in the Varsity 8 that took a second at states.
Nathan, along with three of his fellow seniors, received an opportunity to attend the University of Wisconsin and row for their freshman team. After injuring his knee again in a bike accident, he eventually recovered and stroked the Second Freshman 8 for much of the spring season. He eventually decided to discontinue rowing to focus on his studies.
Nathan has since returned to Tallahassee to finish his Electrical Engineering degree at Florida State. He volunteered and quickly earned a position as an assistant coach for Leon Crew during the 2006-2007 season. Nathan is looking forward to his first of many seasons as the Men’s Novice Head Coach.
Nathan currently holds a USRowing Level I Coaching Certification.
Women's Novice Coach - Valaree Fowler
Phone: (850) 228-5073
Email: Valaree@leoncrew.org
Valaree began her rowing career at the start of her first year at Leon High School as a rower on the women’s team, but suffered a back injury that winter, preventing her from rowing full-time. The coaching staff approached Valaree to become a coxswain for the men’s team and she accepted the offer. Valaree’s first race and first victory as coxswain was in February 2003 at the Scratch Regatta. This was the beginning of many more successes for Valaree and Leon Crew. Valaree coxed the men’s freshmen eight to victory in every race, including a gold medal at the 2003 FSRA and Leon Crew’s first gold medal at the 2003 SRAA.
Throughout her career with Leon Crew, Valaree has led men and women’s boats to victories in numerous races, including five State Championships and a National Championship. Valaree is a business major at Florida State University.
