Coaches & Staff

Maddux Castle is the Women’s Head Coach for the Atlanta Junior Rowing Association. Coach Maddux was born in Atlanta and spent a good deal of his childhood growing up here (He is named after Braves’ great Greg!). His family later relocated to Florida, where he discovered his passion for rowing, eventually captaining the Sarasota Crew for two years during high school.

Coach Maddux is a graduate of George Washington University in Washington, DC where he rowed 4 years and subsequently served as the second assistant for their Men’s Rowing Team. Upon graduation he returned to Sarasota Crew where he coached the Men’s Varsity team.

During the summers he has coached for Rowing Camps of America and ODP Camp in Florida. With a passion for rowing and a wealth of coaching experience, he also has recruiting experience in regions such as Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, DC, and the Southeast.

Coach Maddux coaches with the philosophy of ‘Cultivate excellence in and out of the boat.’  He is Level 2 coaching certified with USRowing. Ready to develop fast boats, Coach Maddux is dedicated to fostering excellence in his athletes.

coach.maddux@atlantajuniors.com

Coach Smarr grew up in Marietta, attending Pope High School. He began rowing with Atlanta Juniors in the summer of 2008 by participating in one of our Learn to Row camps. Immediately finding love for the sport, he would go on to row all four years of high school with AJRA. Coach Smarr attended Kennesaw State University, majoring in Health and Physical Education with a minor in Coaching.

As he stayed close to home, he had the opportunity to coach through his college years, starting with summer camps and continuing to coach our year-round programs. He has previously served as D-Squad lead coach, Novice Men/U17 assistant coach, Varsity Men assistant coach, Summer Sculling lead coach, and Novice Men head coach. During his time as Novice Men head coach, the club won our first Gold at Head of the Hooch in the Novice Men’s 8+, and saw similar success in the spring with the Novice 8+ placing 2nd in the 2V8 event at Southeast Regionals.

After finishing his degree, Coach Smarr spent four years as an elementary school P.E. teacher in Marietta. He has continued to stay in touch with AJRA, and this past year returned to chase his passions and pursue coaching full time. He currently lives in Cartersville, and he and his wife Emily are expecting their first child in August 2023.

Coach Smarr coaches with the philosophy of ‘work hard and work together.’ He is excited to build a positive, unified, and competitive culture. He has recently completed his Level 2 coaching certification with USRowing, and is excited to use that knowledge to bring this team to its full potential.

coach.smarr@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon.

coach.jerod@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon.

coach.mike@atlantajuniors.com

Coach Sarah Darling has been involved with AJRA since 2005 when she walked on the novice women’s team. She immediately fell in love with the sport and rowed all four years in high school, racing in the Lightweight 8+ at Youth Nationals in 2007. She attended the University of Georgia where she majored in English Education and cheering on the Dawgs. Upon graduation in 2013, she missed the river immensely, so she began coaching with D-squad that very fall season. She stepped up to the role of assistant coach for the novice women in 2017-18. Today she is happy to be a part of the varsity women’s coaching staff again this year.

After graduating from UGA, Sarah taught English at Northview High School for six years. After completing her Master’s degree at Georgia State University she began work as an English teacher at Westminster. Today, she can be found rivaling the number of jackets Coach Sarah Hudnall wears on cold days (and probably matching with her, too).

coach.darling@atlantajuniors.com

Coach August began coxing at age 16. He attended college in Philadelphia where he fell in love with the sport after spending too many early mornings on the Schuylkill river. Since then, he has traveled the world as a competitive coxswain. After an invitation and foray into national team selection, he currently races for one of the country’s top masters rowing programs. Highlights include training in Portugal under elite international coaches and steering his eight to victory at the Heineken Regatta in Amsterdam.

After coaching on site for 4 years, Coach August followed his coxing passion to Boston. Despite the distance, he checks in regularly and coaches our team of coxswains virtually. We are fortunate to enjoy his skills from afar!

Coach Sarah is an AJRA alumna who rowed for Atlanta Juniors for 6 years. After graduating high school in 2013, she went on to attend the University of Michigan on a rowing scholarship. At Michigan, Sarah majored in international studies and political science while competing as a Division I athlete. In 2017, Sarah led the 2V8+ to a third-place finish as well as a third-place overall team finish at the NCAA Rowing National Championship.

After graduating from Michigan, she returned to Atlanta to work for the Metro Atlanta Chamber and was lead coach for the AJRA Novice Women for a year. She is Level 2 coaching certified with USRowing. Today, Sarah helps out with the Varsity Women and can be found wearing at least six jackets on cold days at the river.

coach.hudnall@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon

coach.will@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon.

Coach Matt is an AJRA alumnus who started rowing in 2005 and began coaching with AJRA in 2010. He has coached from the Developmental to Varsity level. He is also the Adaptive Head Coach at the Atlanta Rowing Club. He is Level 2 coaching certified with USRowing. Away from rowing, Coach Matt is a Competitive Water Skier & Official who works in the Trademark Licensing Industry.

coach.matt@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon.

Coach George is an AJRA alumnus and started his coaching career with the AJRA Varsity Men in 2003 while also rowing for Georgia State University. He took a hiatus from 2006-2009 when he finished earning his degree in Recreation Management from Appalachian State University.  George has predominantly coached the Novice squad, but is currently working with the Varsity Women with Coach Maddux.  He is Level 2 coaching certified with USRowing. When not coaching rowing he can be found on another section of Hooch where he manages the Atlanta branch of the Nantahala Outdoor Center. The time George is not on the river he can be found hiking, biking, climbing, or paddling with his wife Anna and his two sons Oliver and Charlie.

coach.george@atlantajuniors.com

Bio coming soon.