Coaches
Rudy Ryback
Rudy Ryback came on board in September 2015 as an assistant coach and served with AYRA for the next 8 years. He left briefly to enjoy living on the West Coast where he quickly learned that it rains a lot in Oregon. Rudy rowed in high school at St. Louis Rowing Club and in college at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduating with two bachelors’ degrees in psychology and physiology, Rudy trained with the USRowing High Performance Team in the hopes of winning a seat on the United States Men’s National Lightweight Team. He has coached juniors at Community Rowing in Boston and St. Louis Rowing Club. For seven years Rudy was the Head Coach at Washington University in St. Louis. Rudy has also received his Masters degree in sports management. Rudy returns to AYRA this September as our new head coach.
Jack Gartner. A graduate of the Wharton School of Finance, the University of Pennsylvania, Jack rowed for the legendary Joe Burk at Penn for four years from 1960 through 1964, where he was the captain of the men’s heavyweight crew. Upon graduation, he declined the opportunity to train with the Olympic program and went home to work in the family business. Jack started the rowing program at both Mercyhurst Prep School and Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. in the early 1970’s. He also began the Mercyhurst Regatta which is now over 30 years old. He went on to coach high school crews at The Baldwin School, Philadelphia, Pa.; Upper Marion High School, Philadelphia, Pa.; and Lower Marion High School, Philadelphia, Pa.
Margaret Ervin Bruder came to rowing after her two sons rowed with AYRA. She is a valued assistant coach who primarily coaches our middle school kids. Margaret is a retired professor from Western Carolina University where she taught comparative literature, film studies and American history.
Chynna Knight Cohen rowed all through high school and college. She graduated in 2022 and went on to obtain her M.Ed. in Sports Management. She has Level 1 & 2 USRowing Coaching Certifications and is also certified as a Wilderness First Responder, American Canoe Water Safety Certifier, Leave No Trace Certifier among other certifications. She has extensive experience working with middle and high school students not only in rowing but other outdoor educational programs in Maine, Nevada and California. She and her husband live here in Asheville and she owns her own event planning business.
Board of Directors
Jack Gartner, President and Chief Executive Officer
Martha Williams, Secretary and Program Director/Administrator