Rowing is our passion. Coaching is our purpose.

Thanks to our dedicated coaches, Riverside Crew has developed outstanding student-athletes who compete at both the state and national levels. Many of our rowers have continued their journey by racing at the collegiate level, carrying the Riverside spirit with them.

Dan Passarella

Head Coach

Coach Dan started rowing in middle school in Belleville, New Jersey continuing all through high school. He rowed at Marietta College and even coached the Marietta College crew team. Afterwards, he coached in New Jersey for both Nutley and Belleville high school crew teams. After a career in the technology industry, he co-founded as Head Coach the Riverside High School crew team and Power 10 Rowing Club in Loudoun County, Virginia. Coach Dan is a US Rowing Level 3 High Performance Coach. He, his wife and son have been living in Loudoun County, Virginia for over twenty years. His son now rows at Marietta College.

Joe Brennan Jr. 

Interim Women’s Head Coach

Joe has coached successfully at every level, from high school and juniors to internationals, and has worked with athletes ranging from novices to World and Olympic champions. Joe was the head coach of the US men’s team at the u23 World Championships/Nations Cup in 1995. Before that, he was head coach of the senior men’s team at Penn AC Rowing Association. Joe also coached collegiately at Temple and Georgetown, and at the junior/high school level at Riverside HS, Monsignor Bonner, the Hun School and the Peddie School. Joe and his family have lived in Loudoun County since 2002.

Veronica Rush 

Riverside Coach

Coach Rush is a University of Central Florida Graduate, earning a BFA in Animation and rowed collegiately on the UCF Division 1 women’s rowing team. Winning Silver at the All American Conference, in the UCF First Four, winning both Bronze and Gold in the Second Eight at Big 12 Conference championship, and was ranked 14th in the nation in 2025 nationals. Having rowed for Riverside Highschool for two seasons as a captain during its founding years Veronica has returned and is excited to coach for Riverside Rowing.

Volunteer Coaching Staff