Program Director & Varsity Coach: Rebecca Newman

Coach Rebecca Newman

Rebecca Newman is the Program Director and Head Coach of the College of William & Mary's Rowing Team, a position she has held since the fall of 2022. Prior to her return to Virginia, she served as Program Director at Twin Cities Youth Rowing Club, where she was head coach for both the varsity girls' and boys' teams. Under her leadership, the program flourished, expanding to 150 across 15 schools and establishing a successful middle school program. Her teams consistently excelled, achieving repeat placements at the Head of the Charles and qualifying for the USRowing Youth National Championships while also attracting interest from top universities.

Coach Newman is passionate about helping each rower achieve their individual goals, recognizing that personal growth is essential for the overall success of the team. She believes in the importance of fostering a strong team dynamic, where collaboration and support among teammates elevate everyone’s performance.

Residing in Williamsburg, VA, with her husband Fred, Coach Newman is a former lightweight rower from Trinity University. Her coaching experience includes notable roles such as the first head coach at Walt Whitman High School, junior women's coach for Norwalk, and Head Coach & Director of Rowing for Williamsburg Boat Club.

As a USRowing Certified Level 3 coach, Rebecca is dedicated to providing her athletes with high-quality training and guidance.

The team has achieved great success under Coach Rebecca’s lead, including the honor of medals at both SIRA & Dad Vails championship regattas.

Contact information:

EMAIL: ranewman01@wm.edu

Novice Coaches: Rachel Straub & Laurna Atkins

Coach Rachel Straub

Rachel Straub discovered her passion for rowing while attending Virginia Commonwealth University, where she began her journey in the sport during her freshman year. It was during a spring season in a pair that she truly fell in love with rowing. As a senior, Coach Straub transitioned to coaching, taking the helm of the mixed masters and para rowing team for Richmond Community Rowing. This experience honed her ability to analyze both the rowing stroke and equipment, enabling her to tailor her coaching to meet the diverse needs of individual rowers.

Following her time at Richmond, Coach Straub joined Alexandria Community Rowing, where she not only competed with the competitive sculling team but also played a pivotal role in coaching and coxing the Adult Learn to Sweep program. Afterward, she served as Junior Head Coach at Williamsburg Boat Club for one year, further expanding her coaching expertise. Currently, Coach Straub is dedicated to developing the skills of novice rowers at the College of William and Mary, fostering a deep understanding and appreciation for the sport.

Coach Straub’s commitment to rowing stems from her belief in its essence as a true team sport. She emphasizes the importance of every teammate's dedication to practice and competition, understanding that collective effort is key to the success of the entire boat.

Coach Straub is also a USRowing Certified Level 2 coach, providing her athletes with quality training and support.

Coach Laurna Atkins

Laurna Atkins began her rowing journey as a freshman in high school with Williamsburg Boat Club, quickly realizing that this was the sport she was meant to pursue. Rowing provided her with a community of dedicated individuals eager to work hard and continually improve. This passion deepened when she joined the West Virginia University (WVU) rowing team.

Recruited as a walk-on in the fall of 2020, Coach Atkins faced an unconventional freshman year due to the Covid pandemic. However, rowing offered her a sense of comfort amid the uncertainties of the world. Over her four years at WVU, she competed in both the first and second varsity eights, earning a scholarship in her sophomore year.

Coach Atkins began coaching for the Masters at Williamsburg Boat Club during the summer before her senior year. Although this started as a short-term commitment, she found great fulfillment in helping others discover the joy of rowing. Last summer, she continued coaching at WBC as a Junior Coach while participating in the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Academy for Future Coaches. As a novice coach for the College of William & Mary, she is honored to guide rowers in understanding the sport, the dedication it requires, and the love that brings people together.

Rowing is a sport where the effort put in directly correlates to the rewards gained, and fostering improvement for oneself and teammates takes true skill. Coach Atkins currently holds a USRowing Certification Level 1 Coach.