Meet our Team
DYLAN CHAN
Girls' Head Coach
dylan.chan
@dallasunitedcrew.org
Coach Chan comes to Dallas United Crew after a successful five year stint at The Hockaday School in Dallas. Chan worked on a dynamic staff that brought the school historic results on the National stage. In his first year of coaching in 2019, he helped guide an Eighth place finish in the Women’s Youth Single at the Head of the Charles, followed up with a fifth place finish in 2021 after the COVID Pandemic canceled the 2020 campaign. From 2022 to 2024, the Hockaday staff guided crews to five Stotesbury Cup victories, two Scholastic National Championships, and nine grand final appearances at the USRowing Youth National Championships. In 2023, Chan worked extensively with the straight four that placed fourth at Youth Nationals - the highest varsity team boat finish for the school at the time. His five years at Hockaday culminated in his assistance with guiding the Women’s U17 Double to Hockaday’s first Youth National Championship. Chan has mentored numerous athletes to many accolades on and off the water. Many of his former rowers are rowing for Ivy League, Division I/Power 4, and Division III programs. His contacts extend across the country, and his commitment to helping rowers achieve not only rowing success, but life success sets him apart from others. His investment in the mantra “make better people for a better world” has allowed him to use rowing to make an impact that extends far beyond the programs and boathouses he affiliates with. A former four year rower at The University of Oklahoma, Chan sought rowing as a way to challenge himself and make friends. After his graduation in 2019, he found himself training with hopes of making the US Lightweight National team while discovering coaching. He has made eight Head of the Charles appearances, and still trains & competes regularly in singles and doubles. From 2018 to 2024, Chan worked at Hilti North America in Sales, Business Development, and Tech Services. Outside of rowing, Chan enjoys cycling, photography, and going to concerts. He can be found quoting song lyrics on his Strava, and drawing wisdom from Noah Kahan. On fall weekends you can find him cheering on the Oklahoma Sooners as well as the Detroit Lions. He lights up when he gets a chance to talk about his family - his brother being a Diagnostic Strategist for General Motors in Detroit, and his parents who recently retired after successful 40+ year careers in their respective fields.
NAN MILLER
Middle School Head Coach
nan.miller
@dallasunitedcrew.org
Nan Miller was at the front of the line when rowing lessons were first offered to adults on White Rock Lake in 2004. After spending several lonely years rowing a single out of the Boomerang, Nan joined the Masters competitive team and spent the next 15 years training to compete at the regional and national levels in both sweep and sculling events. Nan has been a middle school coach since 2011 and has taught close to 1200 youth to row on White Rock Lake. “The discipline, body awareness and absolute need to function as a team, are all things these kids will carry to other areas in their lives. We get goofy and have tons of fun, but at the end of the day our Middle School crew is sweaty, hungry and throwing down rowing jargon like those Boys in the Boat,” says Nan, in reference to the bestselling book and movie. Nan retired from the corporate world in 2022 with an eye to free up more time to focus on rowing. Her role at Dallas United Crew has now expanded to include deputy director responsibilities, in addition to her ongoing goal to build the strongest middle school rowing program in the country.
DONA COKER
DUC PINK Head Coach
Donna Coker currently serves as the Secretary of the DUC Board. A Dallas native, Donna is a 35+ year resident of East Dallas. As a founding member and the coach of DUC PINK, the Dragonboat team specifically for Breast Cancer survivors, she has been paddling with DUC for over 8 years and has attended festivals locally and around the world representing DUC. Donna has served on the PTA Boards of Lakewood Elementary, Travis TAG and Woodrow Wilson High School and is Membership Chair for the Lakewood Hills Neighborhood Association. She works full-time as a Sr. Executive Assistant for two, highly successful Dallas business owners and investors.
BEN WILLIAMS
Boys' Head Coach
ben.williams
@dallasunitedcrew.org
NIC LAVANDERA
Assistant Coach
Nic Lavendera is a Dallas local who has been rowing on White Rock Lake for nine years. After taking a year away from the sport to begin his mechanical engineering degree at The University of Texas at Dallas, he found his way back to rowing through a coaching opportunity at Dallas United Crew.
AARON KUDATSKY
Assistant Coach
aaron.kudatsky
@dallasunitedcrew.org
FLO ELKIN
Assistant Coach
NAN GAO
Assistant Coach
Nan Gao’s coaching journey began at DUC after she relocated to Dallas and embraced her passion for rowing as a masters competitor across various clubs. In 2022, she had the privilege of coaching middle school students and eventually transitioned to the women’s team as an assistant coach. Nan discovered rowing during her freshman year of college. Growing up in Mexico City, she had no prior exposure to this sport. Her background includes training and competing in swimming, volleyball, and table tennis at the national and international levels. However, rowing truly captivates her. She likes how the sport uniquely blends mental and physical strength with the essence of teamwork, forging friendships and connections for which she is forever thankful. Nan’s commitment to the sport led her to pursue her Level 2 rowing certification and to coach part-time during the season. She is dedicated to helping her athletes reach their potential on the water and grow as individuals. Her goal is to empower girls to become their best selves as athletes and community members.
AMBER ROBIDOU
Assistant Coach
MATTHEW SLEAR
Assistant Coach
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