COACHING STAFF

Matt Shoop, Head Coach and Women's Varsity 

Matt Shoop has been coaching at TJ since 1997 and has been the Varsity Girls’ coach since 2000. He is a former Washington Post All-Met Coach of the Year. Shoop has sent dozens of athletes on to row at the collegiate level at more than 25 different schools at the Division I, II, and III levels. His boats have won multiple championships at the local, regional, and national levels. His coaching philosophy is to maximize each athlete’s potential, to honor the sport, and represent Jefferson with dignity and class.

Turner Arndt, Men's Varsity

Coach Turner rowed four years with TJ Crew (Class of 2014) and for four years at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL.  With the 2020 season cut short, 2021 was his first full season coaching at TJHSST.  When he is not coaching at Sandy Run, Coach Turner's "real" job is Project Manager for a specialty Civil Engineering company located in Manassas, VA.  Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and sings in a local barbershop chorus.

Shari McClellan, Men's Novice

Valerie Spiegelthal, Women's Novice

Coach Val has been rowing for nearly a decade and this will be her third year coaching. She rowed locally in high school, both as a part of the Westfield High School team and for Resilient Rowing Club, where she competed at a variety of national and international regattas. Val attended James Madison University, where she joined the club rowing team as a rower before transitioning into coaching her junior and senior years. She is now also a member of the coaching staff for the George Mason University Crew Club and for Resilient.

Jamie Easter, Men's Junior Varsity

Coach Jamie rowed in high school, and currently rows at George Mason University, competing both locally and nationally. He is also an active member and sculler of the Occoquan Boat Club. Jamie loves the sport of rowing, and has been involved with all aspects of running a team, especially on the Occoquan.