Xavier Prep Crew Coaches

John Ciani is a native Phoenician and graduate of Saint Mary's High School. He began rowing as a freshman at the University of San Diego, CA. As a 4-year college rower, Mr. Ciani rowed three years on the Varsity level and was team captain his senior year. As he was completing his college rowing career, Mr. Ciani was recruited to coach the USD women's rowing program. He accepted that challenge and worked hard to enhance and expand the women's team from 1985 to 1989.

During Mr. Ciani's tenure at USD, he led the women's rowing program to significant achievements in a very short time. Not only did his team maintain a 3.5 GPA and an overall winning record in dual meets for all 4 years, in 1986 they won the Cal Cup Championship at the San Diego Crew Classic. In 1986 and 1987 the USD women's Varsity and JV won the San Diego City Championship. In 1989 the women's Varsity 8 was the first USD Varsity boat to ever beat Long Beach State.

In 2002 Mr. Ciani helped start the rowing program at Xavier College Preparatory, an all girls prep school in Phoenix. Xavier Prep Crew is a club sport that is sanctioned by the school and is committed to both academics and athletics. With Mr. Ciani as head coach, the Xavier Prep Crew rowers have maintained at least a 3.5 GPA while the program has continued to grow competitively in the region. Mr. Ciani believes in a strong novice program and Xavier Prep Crew has produced finalists in the Freshman 4 and/or 8 at the Southwest Junior Championships every year.

John Ciani is a Level 3 Certified coach and is a highly respected member of the Arizona rowing community. He also remains personally committed to the sport of crew by competing annually at the Masters Level with his USD alums.

   Kelly Vanek
   Assistant Coach

Kelly Vanek began her rowing career in 1999 as a freshman at the University of San Diego. In both her freshman and sophomore years she received the "Effort Award" and as a junior she was recognized as the team's "Most Improved" athlete.

Ms. Vanek was selected as co-captain her senior year. Rowing in both the Varsity 8 and Varsity 4, she helped her team sweep the San Diego City Championships and rowed to a third place finish at the San Diego Crew Classic, the team's first ever berth to the Grand Finale. Heading into West Coast Conference Championships, her crew was seeded first, yet conceded to Gonzaga by 0.4 seconds (the closest WCC finish to date). The team placed third in the Grand Final at the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships. At the Dadvail Regatta they were the only West Coast team to make the Grand Final, where they placed 5th out of 40.

In addition to being on the WCC and WIRA First All Conference Teams, and a WCC Female Athlete of the Year finalist, Ms. Vanek was also selected to receive the team's "Most Valuable" and "Most Inspirational" awards her senior year. She was on the WCC All Conference Academic Team and was recognized as a USD Scholar Athlete for four years by maintaining an overall GPA of 3.8.

More recently, Coach Kelly was selected to attend an elite US Rowing Development Camp at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She began competing in marathons in 2006 and has since finished four. She also began training for triathlons in 2007 and finished her first Ironman in 2008.

Kelly Vanek is an Advanced Level certified rowing coach, with credentials that include three years of coaching Women's Varsity Rowing at Arizona State University, four years of coaching with the City of Tempe and four years for Xavier Prep Crew.

    Dana Ryan
    Assistant Coach

Dana Ryan began her rowing career in San Diego in 2000. She was recruited to cox at the University of Washington where she coxed all 4 years and earned 3 varsity letters. At UW Dana was a 2-time PAC-10 champion and qualified every year for the NCAA Championships. She was named the 2004 Most Inspirational Athlete and from 2003-2005 was on the PAC-10 All-Academic Team.

After graduating, Dana moved back to San Diego and began coaching high school rowers while working on a Masters degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and a Certification in Nutrition for Optimal Health Wellness and Performance. In 3 years as a high school head coach for both ZLAC Rowing Club and San Diego Rowing Club, she qualified multiple boats to the U.S Rowing Youth National Championships. At nationals all of her boats recorded top 10 finishes.

Dana is currently attending Arizona State where she is working on a PhD in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Wellness.

    Natalie Russell
    Assistant Coach

Natalie Russell grew up in Phoenix, Arizona and has two sisters and one brother. She attended Saint Thomas the Apostle grade school and graduated from Xavier College Preparatory in 2007. She is currently attending Arizona State University in the Del E. Webb School of Construction. She is studying in the construction management program and is really enjoying the challenge.

Natalie rowed all four years at Xavier and was on the Varsity team for 3 years. She is very passionate about rowing. She received the "Most Improved Award" in her sophomore year and the "Captain's Award" in her junior year. She was voted Captain of the team in her senior year. She rowed with ASU for one semester, but due to her class schedule was unable to continue rowing. She is very happy to be Assistant Coach of Xavier Prep Crew.