John Gaskin, Director of Rowing at the University of Rochester, has completed his coaching staff for the 2013-14 year with the appointment of two assistant coaches.

Andrea Smith joins the coaches as the Women's Novice Coach after two years at Rochester Institute of Technology. John Bernfield, who has competitive rowing experience for over 40 years, returns to the Rochester campus as the head coach of the men's team.

Bios:
Women's Novice Coach
Andrea Smith
Andrea joins the Rochester rowing staff as Novice Coach after a two season stint as an assistant at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Prior to coaching at RIT, she was an assistant coach with the Novice men and women for Pittsford Crew for two years.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition Management from RIT where she also rowed for three years from 2004-2007. She then went on to earn a Master's degree in Health Care Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College. She finished her competitive rowing career at the Henley Women's Regatta in England.

Smith currently holds Level II Coaching Certification from US Rowing with additional experience as a personal trainer and fitness instructor. She currently resides in Rochester. Away from the water, she currently works in long term care as a Diet Technician.

Men's Coach
John Bernfield
John brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his role with the Rochester rowing staff. He
spent 26 years as head athletic trainer at the University of Rochester along with nine years as an athletic trainer, sports rehab specialist and Director of the Sports Performance and Injury Prevention programs at University Sports Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

He has over 40 years of competitive rowing experience and has won over 400 rowing medals including more than 50 U.S. and Canadian National Championships and 11 medals from the Head of the Charles Regatta. He was ranked #1 in his age group in 1988 in the Concept II World Indoor Rowing Ranking.

From a coaching perspective, John spent four years as the women's varsity rowing coach at Purdue University, three years as the head rowing coach at Genesee Waterways Center, and three years as the director of Pittsford Crew Learn-To-Row program. Additionally, he spent two years as a volunteer coach at the University with the men's team.

Bernfield graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Physical Education and obtained his Masters in Education (emphasis on exercise physiology and biomechanics of sport technique) from SUNY Brockport. Professionally, John presented a two-day seminar on movement mechanics, and functional training for rowing – Spring 2012, National Athletic Trainers Association. He has been a certified athletic trainer for over 30 years, National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for eight years, US Rowing – Certified Level 3 Coach, was on the Faculty of US Rowing "Coaches College" in the summers of 1985 and 1986 and published Effect of Stroke Rate on Velocity of a Rowing Shell, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise,: Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 250-256, 1980.