Scott Branscomb, Director of Rowing scottb@norwalkriverrowing.org
Scott Branscomb joins NRRA as Director of Rowing after nearly two decades in the sport as an athlete, coach, and program administrator. His experience includes time coaching at almost every level, from middle school learn-to-row programs to NCAA Division I. He came to Norwalk at the beginning of 2026 after two years with Greenwich Crew working primarily with the novice junior women. He concurrently served (and continues to serve) as Assistant Women’s Coach at Fairfield University, where he helped the Stags win the 2025 MAAC Championship and reach the NCAA National Championships for the first time in program history.
Prior to his most recent position at Greenwich, he held roles at Pioneer Valley Riverfront Club as the Head Rowing Coach, at Greenwich Crew as the Head of Development, Recreational, and Middle School programs (where he oversaw year-round programs with more than 175 combined participants at their peak and a staff of up to ten assistant coaches), at Essex Rowing Club as the Middle School Program Director and Head Coach, and got his start coaching as Assistant Coach and eventually Rowing Director at North Carolina Community Sailing and Rowing.
A New Hampshire native, Scott began rowing the first week of his freshman year at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and continued training and competing as a member of the team for four years. He graduated magna cum laude with a dual degree in Comparative Literature and Spanish, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and later earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of New Hampshire. A teacher at heart, he finds joy in sharing his knowledge and passion with anyone interested in learning, whether by inviting initiates to the sport to take their first strokes, guiding competitive athletes through the intricacies of seeking speed, or opening doors for people to experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of rowing simply for its own sake. As a program head, he believes in creating an environment for anyone – regardless of experience, skill, or ambition – to pursue rowing for their own reasons and to improve in the ways that are meaningful to them.
In addition to his Masters degree in Teaching, Scott holds a USRowing Level 2 coaching certification, and was previously certified as a RYT-200 Yoga instructor. He is comfortable instructing both sculling and sweeping, and is an avid student of boat rigging and repair, biomechanics, and training methodology. At NRRA, he will oversee all aspects of the rowing programs including youth, masters, and summer camps. NRRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the oldest community rowing program in southern Connecticut, now in its 40th year. The club’s mission is to make rowing available regardless of age or income, and financial aid is offered to families who need it. Scott comes to NRRA having built his career on that same principle.
Charles Windeknecht, Head Coach chuckw@norwalkriverrowing.org
Coach Chuck is an experienced rowing coach and multi-accredited performance trainer with a strong record of working with high-school, college, and elite-level rowers. Most recently, he served as interim coach for Fordham University’s men’s rowing team, leading them to a bronze medal at the Dad Vail Regatta in 2024. His accolades as a rower include 53 Nationals titles, and 16 World Masters titles. He is also a Head of the Charles champion and course record holder (2011) as well as an US Olympic Trials finalist.
In his own words: “Throughout my career, I honed my coaching skills and developed a keen understanding of what it takes to cultivate a winning mentality and foster a culture of excellence within a team. My coaching philosophy revolves around the principles of leadership, inspiration, and teaching. I believe in empowering athletes to push their limits, both on and off the water, and in providing them with the guidance and support they need to excel.”
Jay Ruzbacki, Coach: jayr @ norwalkriverrowing.org
Coach Jay Ruzbacki is originally from Coal Run, Pennsylvania and joined NRRA in 2023 to coach the youth program. She started her sculling career at Steel City Rowing Club in Pittsburgh, PA. Jay successfully competed as a coxswain on the Lightweight Men’s Rowing Team at Mercyhurst University until 2018. On her breaks from university Jay coached at Steel City Rowing Club where she eventually served as the Head Coach until 2021. Jay served as the Head Coach of Oakland Catholic’s high school rowing team in 2021. Jay has developed relationships with boathouses in China and worked with members of the Greek National and Olympic team while working in Ioannina, Greece as a teacher. In addition to coaching, Jay is a certified to teach History and English as a Foreign Language, and has a M.S in Educational Research. Her favorite thing about coaching is watching athletes cultivate a better community and environment than she could have ever anticipated.
Mark Minor, Assistant Coach: mminor@norwalkriverrowing,org
As an assistant coach, Mark brings wide-ranging experience coaching youth, masters, and learn-to-row athletes at several clubs in the area, including Maritime Rowing Club, Sacred Heart Greenwich, RowAmerica Greenwich, and Saugatuck Rowing Club.
At Maritime, he has coached HP, JV, and novice girls as well as masters rowers since 2021. Before that, he coached masters, learn-to-row, and corporate group programs at Saugatuck from 2016 to 2019, and assisted at Sacred Heart Greenwich and RowAmerica Greenwich from 2019 to 2021.
Mark rowed on the varsity crew team at SUNY Maritime College from 1993 to 1996. His boat took first place in the novice four at the Dad Vail Regatta in 1995. He returned to the sport in 2015 at Saugatuck Rowing Club and has raced at the Head of the Charles multiple times, including in a four and a quad in 2016 and a mixed eight in 2021.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation from New York Maritime College, with coursework in business administration, management, economics, and marine operations. He also earned a U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate’s license.
