Jacket Crew Introduces new Head Coach
By: Denny Matheou


The BW Rowing Team began indoor conditioning last week at the new wing of the CRF boathouse with brand new equipment and their new head coach Mark Silverstein.  Coach Mark accepted the volunteer position over the winter and has worked hard to jumpstart the program to take it to a new level.  He has only been rowing himself for just over seven years where he learned right here on the Cuyahoga River through the Adult Learn to Row Programs.

Besides owning his own business, BWS Pack Services (BWS assembles surgical packs for area hospitals), he is the President/Executive Director of the Cleveland Rowing Foundation. He has two grown children, his son is an attorney in LA, and his daughter is a graphic designer in Chicago. She works for Midway Games and recently designed the fighting world for the newest Mortal Kombat!

Mark initiated the Row for the Cure (having raised over $45,000 for Breast Cancer over the last three years), started the Cleveland Visually Impaired Rowing Program for adults, and restarted Summer Urban Rowing Program for Cleveland School kids. He is currently working with several groups to expand rowing opportunities for all Clevelanders.

This season, Jacket Crew will travel to Ohio State, Ohio University, Charleston WV, and Philadelphia, PA.  The team is looking very strong this year and they plan on bringing some medals home.

Although Spring season doesn’t start until the week after spring break, the team is already looking for new people who are interested in learning a new sport, having a good time, and competing against colleges from all over the Midwest and east.  For more information about the team, you can contact Coach Mark at mark@clevelandrows.org.

Jacket Crew Bids Farewell to Coach Dan Diangelo
By: Denny Matheou

After five years of dedicated volunteer service, Jacket Crew's founder and first coach, Daniel Diangelo has stepped down from the position to pursue other ambitions down south.  

Through his tenure, he has built a strong and thriving collegiate rowing program out of nothing.  He woke up at 5am every morning for seven seasons without any expectation of pay, but out of his love for the sport.

Coach Dan began his rowing career coxing at St. Ignatius High School and on to the University of Cincinnati.  He later transferred to Cleveland State where he pulled a team with Baldwin Wallace in 2000.  Since then, he also took coaching positions for adaptive (visually impaired) and inner city youth rowing teams (also volunteer positions).

The Cleveland rowing community owes a great debt of gratitude to Dan for his dedication and hard work.  He will be missed.

Last Updated On: 11/24/03 10:25pm

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