The Coaches

Coach Hull's numerous achievements include racing for the GB National Team in European regattas in 1990, winning the Visitor’s Cup at Henley in 1989, and winning the Boat Race three times with Oxford between 1987 and 1990 (while ostensibly studying for a PhD in biochemistry). After two decades in the business world he returned to rowing at Olympia, WA 9 years ago as head coach of the youth and masters programs at Olympia Area Rowing. He has led youth crews to nationals’ podium finishes in both sweep and sculling, as well as helped coach winning crews at the World Rowing U-23 Championships.  He has recently been selected for the USRowing Development Camp and the CanAmMex Coaching Staff. Richard holds a USRowing Level III High Performance Coaching Certification and is a frequent presenter at conventions and clinics, teaching topics such as the intersection of physiology, mental approach, and rowing technique bringing along his approachable style and British sense of humour.

Jenn began her rowing career as a freshman walk-on student-athlete at Franklin Pierce University.  She led the team as captain in her senior year and sat stroke seat of the varsity 4+ which was the focus boat of the program. Jenn was paramount to helping build the program in her 4 years on the team and holds the 2K erg record for the program.

Upon her undergraduate graduation in 2002, Jenn began coaching at Fox Chapel High School, located in Pittsburgh, PA where she coached the novice women to multiple top finishes. Most notably, in the spring of 2006 her 8+ novice women all earned 2 medals at the Midwest Scholastic Championship while helping Fox Chapel to its second consecutive points trophy.

Jenn's continued passion for the sport led her to join the Three Rivers Rowing Association Masters Women’s rowing team. Rowing with TRRA, Jenn earned medals at Master’s Nationals, as well as a Head of the Charles Medal in the women’s club 8+.  

In the fall of 2006 Jenn began coaching at Duquesne University. She helped the Dukes earn 8 Dad Vails Medals, 10 Atlantic 10 medals, three of which were top 4 finishes at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship.  Jenn served as a member of the board for the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association from 2019-2022.

During her time with the Pittsburgh rowing community Jenn has also aided in coaching the TRRA junior’s and master’s programs while continuing to row when able.  Jenn is a mother of 2 daughters. Evelyn is 9, loves being active and strong, and participates in karate and crossfit.  She loves to get in a boat whenever her mom lets her. Kaley is 13 and lives with Rett Syndrome. She can light up your world with her smile.

Director of the AHN Sports Performance program since October 2015, Frank Velasquez is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan, and was a student athletic trainer for Big 10 Championship teams in football and women’s swimming and diving. After becoming certified as an athletic trainer, he took a position as minor league athletic trainer for the Texas Rangers organization. Four years later, he became strength and conditioning coordinator for all of the Rangers minor league teams in the U.S., Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

In 2003, Velasquez joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as its strength and conditioning coach. He served in that role for nine seasons, developing and overseeing the strength training, conditioning and overall wellness programs for the team. In 2008, Velasquez and the Pirates Sports Medicine staff were awarded “MLB Sports Medicine Staff of the Year” by Baseball Prospectus magazine for helping the Pirates be among the teams with the fewest days on the disabled list over a three-year period.

In 2012, Velasquez co-founded Vesla 360 Sports Performance & Physical Therapy, providing strength training, physical therapy and massage services for active adults and developing athletes.