Coaches and Staff
Buffalo Rowing Club's high-performance racing team is guided by an exceptional coaching staff, featuring former US and Canadian National Team coaches and rowers, alongside past and current Division 1 athletes, with international race experience.
Head Coach
RJ Rubino
The Buffalo Rowing Club program is led by RJ Rubino, a former US National Team oarsman with a distinguished record at national and international regattas. RJ has directed successful programs at RowBuffalo, Canisius High School, BSRA, and the U23 US National Team.
After achieving historic success with RowBuffalo in 2023 and 2024, he founded the non-profit Buffalo Rowing Club. Under his leadership, RJ's rowers have won a U23 World Championship, fourteen Royal Canadian Henley titles, thirteen USRowing Youth and Summer National Championships, seven CSSRAs, four SRAAs, and dozens of New York State Championships. Alumni of his programs have won prestigious events such as the Eastern Sprints, IRAs, and World Championships.
Assistant Coach
Brett Vilk
Brett Vilk joins the BRC coaching staff from Grimsby, Ontario. After a distinguished rowing career with Team Canada, Cal Berkeley, Brentwood, and RowBuffalo. A multi-year member of Canada’s U23 8+ and U19 4-, Brett stroked the 1V to a top finish at the Head of the Charles during his senior year at Cal Berkeley. In 2023, he led RowBuffalo to victory as the stroke of the Canadian Henley Championship 8+. Brett is a multi-time CSSRA & SRAA champion.
Assistant Coach
Ryan Ficcorilli
Ryan Ficorilli joins Buffalo Rowing Club after back-to-back championship winning seasons with RowBuffalo. As an oarsman, Ryan led the Columbia University Rowing Team as captain for two years. He holds gold metal victories in eights at the Sprints. He has coached college and high school programs for over 10 years with gold metal results at NYS Championships, SRAA, and CSSRA events. He was a member of the US National Team and represented the US at the Pan Am Games. Ryan has won/medaled at every major regatta in North America.
Assistant Coach
Wilder Fulford
Wilder Fulford joins BRC from London, England, where he learned to row at Westminster School. He is currently in his second season at Stanford University, where he has raced with the 1V and 2V 8+. In the summer of 2024, Wilder contributed to RowBuffalo's victory as 6-seat of the Royal Canadian Henley-winning Senior 8+. He comes to BRC as both a rower and coach, building on his coaching experience with South Niagara Rowing Club.