HERMITS ROWING CAMP

Brian Duffey, a Holy Spirit High School (’95) and Jacksonville University (’99) graduate, has built a remarkable career as both a rower and coach. A four-year varsity oarsman at Holy Spirit and three-year varsity oarsman at Jacksonville, Duffey earned numerous accolades, including two State Championships and a bronze at Nationals in high school, as well as two SIRA golds, a silver, and a bronze at the Dad Vails in college. A Margate City Firefighter/EMT for 25 years and a Lieutenant on the Longport Beach Patrol for 21 years, he also competed in lifeguard competitions. Duffey began coaching in 2000, leading Holy Spirit’s Boys Freshman 8 to NJ State, Philadelphia City, Stotesbury Cup, and National Championships. He later coached at St. Augustine Prep, where his boats won multiple championships, including the school’s first Stotesbury and SRAA National Lightweight 8 titles in 2006. Returning to Holy Spirit in 2007, he became Head Coach in 2009, achieving continued success before stepping away in 2012 to focus on family. Duffey returned to St. Augustine Prep in 2024, coaching the Varsity 8 and then leading the Freshman/Novice 8 to significant victories in 2025, including NJ State and Philadelphia City Championships. An active member of the Viking Rowing Club, Duffey has grown its Masters program to over 70 competitors, earning gold medals at prestigious regattas like the Head of the Schuylkill and Kings Head. This summer, he looks forward to inspiring the next generation of rowers at Lake Lenape.

Joe Maguire has been the Head Coach of Men’s Rowing at Stockton University For the past 4 years. Prior to that, he was the assistant rowing coach for St. Augustine Preparatory School in Richland , NJ since the programs inception in 1998. Coach Maguire's focus was mostly on the Freshman and Novice athletes, teaching the skills of rowing and developing their first year in the sport. Additionally he developed and helped implement the entire team's conditioning, training and testing program after attaining his first USRowing Level 3 certification in 2005. While at St. Augustine, he also worked as an assistant Varsity coach, gilding boats in the Freshman 8, Junior 8, and 2nd 8 to medals at the SRAA National Championship Regatta and Stotesbury Cup. in 2012 Coach Maguire’s Junior 8 won the SRAA National Championship. Coach Maguire has coached multiple NJ State, Philadelphia City and Atlantic County Championships.Coach Maguire has also had 2 undefeated Novice 8’s, both in 2003 and again in 2010. During his years coaching at St. Augustine Prep his crew have contributed to 8 consecutive men’s team points trophies at the NJ State Championships, as well as the men's team points trophy at the Atlantic County Championships every year since the race was established in 2005 through 2021.

Coach Maguire was voted the Southern New Jersey Scholastic Rowing Assoc. Coach of the Year in 2011. He also completed the newly revised 6 month long USRowing Level 3 Coaching certification course in 2021, becoming one of the first 100 rowing coaches in the country to be certified to the new highest standard of the USRowing Assoc.

In his short tenure at Stockton University Coach Maguire’s crews have already started to make an impact, winning the prestigious Bill Braxton Memorial trophy twice. Coaches crews have multiple medals in the DIII categories at theHead of the Schuylkill Regatta, The Knecht Cup Regatta and the MARC Conference Championships. Coaches Freshman 4 has won the conference Championship the past 2 years. In 2025 the Stockton Men’s Varsity 4 just took home the silver medal at the Dad Vails.

Coach Bill Sprouse brings a unique perspective to the rowing community, with over 40 years of experience in South Jersey high school football. Known for developing young athletes into team leaders, he has been part of numerous successful programs, including championship teams at Holy Spirit, where he made 10 playoff appearances, played in five championships, and won three state titles, as well as two playoff appearances with Egg Harbor Township. As a strength and conditioning coach at E.H.T., his players set school records for squat and deadlift. In 2011-2012, Coach Sprouse joined Holy Spirit Boys Crew as a strength coach, helping varsity rowers achieve remarkable gains, including all members of the Varsity 8 squatting over 300 lbs. Now contributing to the St. Augustine Rowing Camp, Coach Sprouse focuses on fostering a fitness culture by teaching proper lifting and calisthenic techniques essential for the rowers' long-term success.

Coach Borak returns to St. Augustine Prep where he learned to row in the spring of 2004. Eventually becoming a member of the 2007 Lightweight 8+, he has medalled at Cities, States, Stotesbury, and SRAA Nationals, with one USRowing Youth National Championship appearance, where the crew came in fifth, under the guidance of Coach Brian Duffey. Borak went on to row first at Franklin & Marshall College, then at Oklahoma City University. As a coach, coach Borak began at Absegami High School, where he guided the 2009 Freshman 8+ to a 5th place finish at SRAA Nationals. Then, after successful coaching stints at Egg Harbor Twp High School and at the Oklahoma City Juniors team, Borak pursued a civilian career at Paycom Software, where he started a corporate rowing team while also serving a contract in the Marine Corps Reserve as an 0352 Anti-Tank Missile Gunner. Returning to coaching in 2019, Borak helped build the men's team at Franklin & Marshall rebuild and return to Dad Vails (with one grand finals appearance) in the years following the pandemic shutdowns. Coach Borak is excited to be back in Richland's Proud and Peaceful Glen, and enjoys cycling, fishing, and rowing his single: 'Warhead.'

Luke Duff, a graduate of Atlantic City High School (’96) and Jacksonville University (2000), has been a dedicated physical education teacher in Ventnor for 25 years. As a high school rower, he won numerous State, City, and National Championships, including competing at the prestigious Henley Royal Rowing Regatta. At Jacksonville University, Duff was a three-year varsity oarsman, winning State and regional championships and competing in the Dad Vails, while also beginning his coaching career with the university’s men’s rowing team and Episcopal High School. After returning to Margate, NJ, Duff coached Mainland Regional High School’s rowing teams, leading them to success at State, Stotesbury, and National Championships. He also served on the Ventnor Beach Patrol for 14 years, competing in lifeguard events, and coached Ventnor’s soccer team while organizing school activities. Currently, Duff is an active member and coach at the Viking Rowing Club, mentoring Master’s rowers and promoting lifelong fitness through a daily fitness club he created for the Ventnor School District.

Rob Johnson is a seasoned sports and media executive and partner at Ventnor Ventures, where he leads advisory services and investments across sports technology and entertainment. With over 20 years of experience, Rob has held executive roles with the Philadelphia Flyers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Playfly Sports, and Jackbox Games—driving transformative growth and innovation at the intersection of emerging media and traditional sports.

Rob rowed competitively with Atlantic City High School, Marietta College—where he was a four-time Dad Vail medalist—Penn AC, and Viking Rowing Club. His passion for the sport continued through coaching roles at Jacksonville University and Fairmount Rowing Club.

A graduate of Marietta College and MBA recipient from Jacksonville University, Rob remains a dedicated advocate for sports development and community engagement.

Nicholas Ferra is currently a Medical ICU and Oncology ICU nurse at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

During his rowing career Nicholas rowed for St. Augustine Prep for four years, beginning in the freshman/novice lightweight 8+ his freshman year, and the junior varsity 8+ and varsity 4+ his sophomore year. During his junior year (2006) and senior year (2007) Nicholas was bowseat of the Varsity Lightweight 8+ that would win the 2006 Stotesbury Cup Regatta and the 2006 SRAA National Championship Regatta, and in 2007 would take 3rd at the 2007 Stotesbury Cup Regatta and 2nd at the 2006 SRAA National Championship Regatta.

In college Nicholas would row bowseat for LaSalle University's Varsity 8+ for the 2008 season. From 2009-2011 Nicholas rowed stroke seat for Franklin and Marshall College underneath the coaching of national team coaches Claus Wolter and Robert Weber. In addition to rowing Nicholas also raced for the Franklin and Marshall cycling team aiding in qualifying his teammates at Franklin and Marshall for the USA Cycling Collegiate National Championships.

Coach Connell is a retired college rowing coach, having coached at Rutgers University, LaSalle University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Coach Connell was also the head coach of Holy Spirit High School boys crew, where in 1977 he led the Varsity 8 to a Stotesbury Cup and National Championship. Coach Connell has coached at some of the highest levels of rowing. From Ivy League Eastern Sprint Champions to Olympic Rowers. Coach Connell brings years of experience and knowledge to our program.

Coach Connell has been an assistant to St. Augustine’s Head Coach Ray D’Amico for the past five seasons.