Our coaching team

Jennifer Hayden

Head Women's Rowing Coach

Raised in the elite rowing community of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Jennifer returns to St. Ignatius Crew with decades of leadership experience building and coaching champion collegiate and high school rowing teams.

As one of the first coaches for SI Women’s Crew, she laid the foundation for the current program, ultimately leading her rowers to dozens of state titles, two podium finishes at the Cincinnati Youth Invitational, and the honor of St. Ignatius as the fastest high school eight in the United States. Going on to assist Stanford University’s new lightweight women’s crew program, Jennifer helped coach the team as it raced undefeated in the Pac-10 Conference and won bronze at the national level. For nearly 30 years, she has been a trusted mentor and colleague to coaches and rowers throughout Northern California.

Outside of coaching, Jennifer is the founder and principal of her interior design studio and the mother of three sons.

Qualifications:

University of Toronto, Bachelors of Fine Arts & Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing
Head Coach St. Ignatius College Prep
Assistant Coach Stanford University
US Rowing Level One and Level Two
Red Cross First Aid / CPR
US Boating Safety Certified
Affiliated member of the Women's Coaching Alliance
Affiliated member of the Posative Coaching Alliance

Lauren Labagh

Operations & Assistant Coach

With a deep expertise in sports management, health and wellness, and as an alumna of Sacramento State’s and SI’s women’s crew programs, Lauren leads conditioning and program development for our rowers, articulating and reinforcing our whole health coaching approach to fitness and training.

A lifelong competitive athlete in rowing, basketball and volleyball, and with multiple state rowing championships and two bronze medals at nationals from her time as a member of this team, Lauren brings a results-driven and team-oriented perspective to enhancing health and wellness in every effort undertaken by the student-athletes of SI women’s crew.

In addition to her work as a coach, Lauren serves as an Exercise and Quality Improvement Specialist for San Francisco’s Department of Public Health in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch , and is a certified yoga facilitator, fitness trainer, health coach, and American Red Cross Professional Rescuer.

Qualifications:

St. Ignatius College Prep '00, Multisport Varsity Athlete
Sacramento State University, BA in Family & Consumer Sciences & Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing
United States Sports Academy, Daphne, AL, Masters in Sports Management
US Rowing Level One
American Red Cross First Aid / CPR
US Boating Safety Certification

patsy mcguire miller

Head Novice Coach

A highly experienced rowing coach, teacher, and alumna of the Division 1 crew team at the University of California, Berkeley, Patsy leads the novice program for SI women’s crew, guiding our new rowers as they learn how to handle a boat, find their rhythm in an eight, and succeed in their first races on the water.

At Cal, Patsy raced at the NCAA Championships, placed second and third at the Pac-10 championships, and trained at US Rowing’s West Coast Development Camp. While a multi-sport athlete at SI, she swam, ran cross-country, and won four state championships and a bronze medal at nationals as a rower on the SI women’s crew team under the leadership of Coach Hayden.

Outside of crew, Patsy works as an early childhood educator and is the mother of two children.

Qualifications:

St. Ignatius College Prep '99 Multisport Athlete
University of California Berkeley BA in Sociology
Cal Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing PAC-10 Conference Awards, All-Academic Honorable Mention, 2001, 2002
City College of San Francisco, Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential
US Rowing Level One
American Red Cross CPR/First Aid
US Boating Safety Certification

Megan Cotter

Assistant Coach

We are thrilled to introduce our newest addition to the coaching team, Megan Cotter '02. What truly sets Megan apart is her holistic coaching approach, which aligns perfectly with our team's ethos. Megan rowed for SI and continued with the University of Wisconsin. Megan's passion for coaching was ignited when she returned to coach for St. Ignatius and progressed as an Assistant Rowing Coach at the University of Pennsylvania. Having served as both an athlete and a coach for the US Rowing Development Camp, Coach Cotter boasts invaluable firsthand experience in the world of competitive rowing. Her extensive experience as a Learning Specialist further demonstrates her commitment to individualized athlete support and holistic wellness.

Her addition completes the Women's coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jennifer Hayden, creating a perfect trifecta of SI Crew Alumna Assistant Coaches!

Qualifications:

St. Ignatius College Prep '02 Multisport Athlete
University of Wisconson, Bachelors BA in Political Science & Athlete Women's Rowing
University of Texas in Austin, Masters in Human Dimensions of Organizatins

Support Team

Complementing our robust rowing programs is our team of highly qualified support staff at St. Ignatius. With dedicated trainers and experienced strength and conditioning coaches, we prioritize the holistic development of our athletes. Our state-of-the-art training facilities, recently inaugurated at St. Ignatius College Prep, provide athletes with cutting-edge resources for strength and conditioning. Training sessions are conducted on campus, ensuring convenient access to our expert staff. Athletes benefit from personalized attention, and our trainers are readily available for any necessary modifications, fostering a supportive and tailored environment for optimal athletic growth.

Strength Coaches & athletic trainers

Gaea Salazar

Assistant Athletic Director

Strength & Conditioning Coach

Girls Who Lift Moderator

Gaea earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation with a focus on Exercise Science from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Commencing her strength and conditioning coaching career at her alma mater, she expanded her expertise to sports rehabilitation clinics in the Bay Area. Additionally, she is a certified Level 1 Weightlifting Coach accredited by the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Gaea's overarching mission is to impart essential movement fundamentals to youth, laying a robust foundation for their future careers in sports.

Kayla Gradillas

Athletic Trainer

Kayla received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, focusing on Athletic Training from California State University, Fullerton. She also completed the Athletic Training Program at CSUF. Kayla went on to earn her Master of Arts Degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University, Irvine. Kayla is a CPR and First Aid instructor, Level 2 Certified in Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR). She also serves on the California Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary Schools Committee.

ZENA FELICE

Running Cross Training Coach

Zena Filice, a seasoned marathoner and certified running coach, brings her passion for athletics to our support staff. As an assistant coach with the St. Ignatius Cross Country team, she excels in developing young track and cross country athletes. She is a welcomed resource for our athletes as they use running as a cross-training tool. Outside of nurturing talent, she works as a technology leader at Salesforce. Her professional expertise is matched by an enduring commitment to fostering the next generation of runners.

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to uphold the legacy of excellence established by the pioneering female rowers of St. Ignatius and continue fostering a supportive and empowering environment for our athletes. On the water, in the boathouse, at school, our rowers learn, train, and succeed with unyielding integrity, resolve, and leadership.

Our vision is to remain a force to be reckoned with in regional and national competitions while promoting the values of cura personalis - whole health, whole human.