The team behind the boathouse.
From day-to-day operations to long-term stewardship, our dedicated leadership team handles the heavy lifting off the water so our athletes, families, and community can thrive on it.
Austin Brooks
Executive Director
Austin Brooks
Austin Brooks serves as the Executive Director for Dallas United Crew (DUC), now beginning his third year with the organization. As the first to hold this role, he has been honored to guide DUC through an exciting period of growth in both rowing and paddle sports, helping shape the program’s vision and expand opportunities for athletes across Dallas. Before joining DUC, Austin and his family relocated from California, where he served as Head Coach and Program Director at UC Irvine. During his tenure, he developed the California Challenge Cup Regatta, creating a sustainable revenue stream to support the long-term success of UC Irvine’s program. With more than a decade of rowing and coaching experience, he brings both expertise and enthusiasm to DUC’s mission of developing athletes and strengthening community through the sport of rowing. As an athlete, Austin had an undefeated collegiate rowing career at the University of Washington, where he also set the current world record in the Varsity 8+ with a time of 5:21.4. He represented the United States at two World Rowing Championships, advancing both times to the A Final, and is a Henley Royal Regatta Temple Cup Champion. Prior to college, he rowed for Newport Aquatic Center as captain, leading the Men’s Varsity 8+ to back-to-back National Championships and two undefeated high school seasons. One of Austin’s goals as Executive Director is to ensure that rowing and paddle sports at DUC are accessible, inclusive, and transformative for athletes of all backgrounds. He has a lifelong passion for the sport and its ability to build character, community, and resilience. Outside of his work with Dallas United, Austin enjoys working out (no surprise there) and, above all, cherishes his time as a loving husband and proud father to his daughter.
Ben Williams
Program Manager
Ben Williams
Ben Williams brings a wealth of experience in coaching and athlete development. He served as the Varsity Girl’s Coach at River City Rowing Club from September 2020 to June 2023 and as a Men’s Rowing Coach at Capital Crew from 2015–2016. Ben holds an Associate’s Degree in Psychology from Orange Coast College and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Government from Grand Valley State University, where he rowed on both teams and wrote for the student newspaper. He is committed to developing athletes and contributing to the success of Dallas United Crew’s men’s team.
Ken Brown
Facility Director
Ken Brown
Prior to coming to DUC, Ken Brown did business at Halcyon Boatworks and Marine Construction. That skillset made him attractive to the organization, and eventually started working on the fixed dock associated with the launch dock in 2018. He continued to build and work on many other pieces of equipment with DUC, including the tandem boat that hundreds of new rowers have learned to row on. In his free time, Ken enjoys spending time with his family and morning walks around White Rock Lake.
Melanie Kirton
Accountant
Susan Falvo
Marketing and Community Relations
