Our coaching team
Jennifer Hayden
Head Women's Rowing Coach
Raised in the elite rowing community of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, Jennifer returns to St. Ignatius Crew with decades of leadership experience building and coaching champion collegiate and high school rowing teams.
As one of the first SI Women's Crew coaches, she laid the foundation for the current program, ultimately leading her rowers to dozens of state and national titles. Under Coach Hayden, 43 of the team's 56 podium finishes in the past 35 years were under her guidance - precisely 21 of 23 Gold, 12 of 14 Silver, and 10 of 19 Bronze state titles. The team has earned seven podium finishes at the national level, with Coach Jennifer Hayden coaching for 4 of them, including two during her recent return to SI.
Going on to assist Stanford University's new lightweight women's crew program, Jennifer helped coach the team as it raced undefeated in the Pac-10 Conference and won bronze at the national level. For nearly 30 years, she has been a trusted mentor and colleague to coaches and rowers throughout Northern California.
Outside of coaching, Jennifer is the founder and principal of her interior design studio and the mother of three sons.
Qualifications:
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University of Toronto, Bachelors of Fine Arts & Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing
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Head Coach St. Ignatius College Prep
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Assistant Coach Stanford University
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US Rowing Level One and Level Two
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Red Cross First Aid / CPR
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US Boating Safety Certified
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Affiliated member of the Women's Coaching Alliance
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Affiliated member of the Posative Coaching Alliance
Lauren Labagh '00
Operations & Assistant Coach
With a deep expertise in sports management, health and wellness, and as an alumna of Sacramento State’s and SI’s women’s crew programs, Lauren leads conditioning and program development for our rowers, articulating and reinforcing our whole health coaching approach to fitness and training.
A lifelong competitive athlete in rowing, basketball and volleyball, and with multiple state rowing championships and two bronze medals at nationals from her time as a member of this team, Lauren brings a results-driven and team-oriented perspective to enhancing health and wellness in every effort undertaken by the student-athletes of SI women’s crew.
In addition to her work as a coach, Lauren serves as an Exercise and Quality Improvement Specialist for San Francisco’s Department of Public Health in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch , and is a certified yoga facilitator, fitness trainer, health coach, and American Red Cross Professional Rescuer.
Qualifications:
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St. Ignatius College Prep '00, Multisport Varsity Athlete
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Sacramento State University, BA in Family & Consumer Sciences & Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing
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United States Sports Academy, Daphne, AL, Masters in Sports Management
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US Rowing Level One
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American Red Cross First Aid / CPR
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US Boating Safety Certification
patsy mcguire miller '99
Head Novice Coach
A highly experienced rowing coach, teacher, and alumna of the Division 1 crew team at the University of California, Berkeley, Patsy leads the novice program for SI women’s crew, guiding our new rowers as they learn how to handle a boat, find their rhythm in an eight, and succeed in their first races on the water.
At Cal, Patsy raced at the NCAA Championships, placed second and third at the Pac-10 championships, and trained at US Rowing’s West Coast Development Camp. While a multi-sport athlete at SI, she swam, ran cross-country, and won four state championships and a bronze medal at nationals as a rower on the SI women’s crew team under the leadership of Coach Hayden.
Outside of crew, Patsy works as an early childhood educator and is the mother of two children.
Qualifications:
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St. Ignatius College Prep '99 Multisport Athlete
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University of California Berkeley BA in Sociology
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Cal Varsity Athlete Women's Rowing PAC-10 Conference Awards, All-Academic Honorable Mention, 2001, 2002
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City College of San Francisco, Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential
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US Rowing Level One
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American Red Cross CPR/First Aid
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US Boating Safety Certification
Michaela Mulkerrins '20
Assistant Coach
We are thrilled to introduce our newest addition to the coaching team, Michaela Mulkerrins '20. Michaela rowed for SI and continued her rowing career at Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, where she served as team captain. A recent graduate with a degree in Psychology, she initially thought soccer was her path, but after discovering rowing in high school, her passion shifted. Rowing transformed how she saw herself, not just as a soccer player, but as an athlete. Her experience and passion for the sport make her a fantastic fit for our program, and she’s eager to share her love for rowing with the St. Ignatius team.
Michaela is currently studying to become an EMT at Foothill College, with plans to apply to the San Francisco Fire Academy. In addition, she works as the gym director at Saint Cecilia, supporting young athletes and fostering a positive environment. Her dedication to community service shines through her work at the South San Francisco Adult Day Care Center and her role coordinating a camp for teens and adults with special needs. She is also training for the Philadelphia Half Marathon, fundraising for “Girls on the Run,” a program that empowers young girls through running.
Her addition completes the Women's coaching staff, led by Head Coach Jennifer Hayden, creating a perfect trifecta of SI Crew Alumna Assistant Coaches!
Qualifications:
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St. Ignatius College Prep '19 Multisport Athlete
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Saint Joseph's University, Bachelors BA in Psychology
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St. Joe's four year JV/V Athlete and team captain '23-24
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US Rowing Level One
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American Red Cross CPR/First Aid
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US Boating Safety Certication
Volunteer Alum rowers in action
Rebecca Rothman REILLY '96
Rebecca, a proud Saint Ignatius College Prep alumna from the Class of '96, was a key member of SI’s Women’s Rowing program, helping bring home the school’s first state championship in the women’s eight. She now returns to her Wildcat roots with a deep commitment to developing future generations of rowers. Rebecca’s diverse athletic background spans running, whitewater and sea kayaking, and Division 1 rowing at the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a BA in Psychology. In addition to her competitive sports experience, Rebecca holds a Master’s degree in Communication Disorders from San Diego State University and has spent decades working in healthcare as a hospital-based speech-language pathologist.
Volunteer Alum rowers in action
Masey milham '23
Masey Milham, a 2023 graduate of St. Ignatius, was honored with the team’s most prestigious accolade, The Jill Costello Award, recognizing her outstanding dedication and spirit. Recruited to row for the University of Washington, Masey excelled during her freshman year, embracing the challenge of training at the highest level. Her passion for the sport remains unwavering, and continuing her rowing journey was central to her decision when transferring colleges. Currently, Masey is supporting the SI Women’s Rowing team while taking classes at City College of San Francisco in preparation for her transfer to the warm, sunny shores of UC San Diego. We are fortunate to have her assistance during this transition - Her return is a powerful reminder of how this boathouse remains a lasting community for so many rowers.
Support Team
Complementing our robust rowing programs is our team of highly qualified support staff at St. Ignatius. With dedicated trainers and experienced strength and conditioning coaches, we prioritize the holistic development of our athletes. Our state-of-the-art training facilities, recently inaugurated at St. Ignatius College Prep, provide athletes with cutting-edge resources for strength and conditioning. Training sessions are conducted on campus, ensuring convenient access to our expert staff. Athletes benefit from personalized attention, and our trainers are readily available for any necessary modifications, fostering a supportive and tailored environment for optimal athletic growth.
Strength Coaches & athletic trainers
Gaea Salazar
Assistant Athletic Director
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Girls Who Lift Moderator
Gaea earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation with a focus on Exercise Science from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Commencing her strength and conditioning coaching career at her alma mater, she expanded her expertise to sports rehabilitation clinics in the Bay Area. Additionally, she is a certified Level 1 Weightlifting Coach accredited by the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Gaea's overarching mission is to impart essential movement fundamentals to youth, laying a robust foundation for their future careers in sports.
Kayla Gradillas
Athletic Trainer
Kayla received her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology, focusing on Athletic Training from California State University, Fullerton. She also completed the Athletic Training Program at CSUF. Kayla went on to earn her Master of Arts Degree in Athletic Administration from Concordia University, Irvine. Kayla is a CPR and First Aid instructor, Level 2 Certified in Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR). She also serves on the California Athletic Trainers’ Association Secondary Schools Committee.
ZENA FELICE
Running Cross Training Coach
Zena Filice, a seasoned marathoner and certified running coach, brings her passion for athletics to our support staff. As an assistant coach with the St. Ignatius Cross Country team, she excels in developing young track and cross country athletes. She is a welcomed resource for our athletes as they use running as a cross-training tool. Outside of nurturing talent, she works as a technology leader at Salesforce. Her professional expertise is matched by an enduring commitment to fostering the next generation of runners.
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to uphold the legacy of excellence established by the pioneering female rowers of St. Ignatius and continue fostering a supportive and empowering environment for our athletes. On the water, in the boathouse, at school, our rowers learn, train, and succeed with unyielding integrity, resolve, and leadership.
Our vision is to remain a force to be reckoned with in regional and national competitions while promoting the values of cura personalis - whole health, whole human.