Vero Beach, FL – July 20, 2021 – International and elite rowing coach Paul Mokha will take over as director of rowing August 1, bringing 30 years of coaching experience across the country and around the world to Vero Beach Rowing (VBR).
Mokha’s formidable resume make him uniquely qualified to lead VBR as the club emerges from the past year with ambitious plans to expand access to rowing at its new state-of-the art boathouse. Mokha also has coached collegiate Division 1 and 2 schools as well as coaching juniors and masters, and organizing a program for para-rowing. He holds the prestigious U.S. Rowing Level 3 Coaches Certification and has coached 18 athletes who won Olympic and World Championship medals.
“We are very excited to have a new leader for our rowing programs with the vast experience and outstanding reputation that Paul Mokha brings,” said Vero Beach Rowing President Shotsie Cain LaJoie. “We are on the cusp of an exciting era of rowing with new community partnerships that will more fully utilize our great new rowing facility and showcase our city and the beautiful Indian River Lagoon. He is the leader for our time.”
Mokha will be assuming leadership of VBR as Brian Colgan, the current director of rowing, retires after three years with the club. Colgan led the club through the construction of the new boathouse and more than doubled the size of the club’s fleet. He also led VBR’s junior teams to state and regional medals and championships each year, including a record number of gold medals in virtual championships during the pandemic.
Vero Beach Rowing is a non-profit 501(C)3 community organization with the mission “to promote and teach the sport of rowing to the community in order to develop physical fitness, personal character, and an ethic of cooperation through competitive and recreational opportunities.” More information on VBR’s programs can be found on the Vero Beach Rowing website. Please also visit our Facebook page or follow us on Instagram and Twitter @verobeachrowing.