Coaching Staff

Kevin is one of the founders of OBCR, serves as a trustee, and is our program and facilities director.

Kevin rowed throughout his college career, on Fordham University’s Men’s Crew Team, and then as a Master while earning his Juris Doctor from Hofstra Law School in 2017.

At OBCR, Kevin manages staff, develops our programs, and is our main liaison with local and state government regarding all aspects of the Club.

Kevin Kelley is a discovery attorney at Kelley, Drye and Warren in New York City. Kevin was a law clerk for the Honorable James L. Garrity Jr. in the Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court.

My passion for rowing started here on Long Island where I rowed in High School for Bay Shore High School in the spring and at Sagamore Rowing Association in the summer. I went on to row at Marist College for 3 years where I won the 2014 MAAC Championship 1v and competed at the Head of the Charles as well. I eventually moved on to earn my bachelor degrees in Economics and Political Science from SUNY Farmingdale.

Immediately after my competitive rowing career ended at Marist, I became the Assistant Coach for Oyster Bay High School and worked with Coach Manny Valentin, now Head Coach of Skidmore College, as well as Coaches Kevin Kelley and Rachel Roth, currently trustees of OBCR.

I am also a volunteer Firefighter for the Bay Shore Fire Department. I’m looking forward to strengthening and developing the depth and foundation of the OBCR junior team in the near future.

Fun Fact: I am currently training to participate in triathlons this summer.

Tom first started rowing at SUNY Geneseo. As a graduate student, he coached for his alma mater, as well as masters rowing at Genesee Rowing Club. While serving as the Head Instructor at The Waterfront Center next door to the boathouse, he was quickly sucked into the rowing community here in Oyster Bay. He coached for a year at Friends Academy, with many of the same boats the program uses today. He then transitioned over to Manhasset Crew and spent eight years there in a number of capacities. In each position winning many races at the regional and national level. 

While not on the water, Tom is a teacher in the Wantagh School District. He holds a BA in History and Adolescent Education, MEd in Literacy, and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership. In his free time, he enjoys sailboat racing, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Sara E. Baldvins, also known affectionately by her colleagues and athletes as Coach Baldi, is the Lead Assistant Coach for Oyster Bay Community Rowing. She has over 10 years of coaching experience, most recently as the Head Girls Coach at Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT. Prior to this she was Novice Girls Coach, Assistant Varsity Girls Coach and Coxswain Coach at Twin Cities Youth Rowing in Edina.

She rowed Varsity at the University of Minnesota (D1) and participated in four Big Ten Championships. Coach Baldi went on to compete at the the Head of the Charles in 2013 and 2014, Masters Nationals, and Club Nationals with the Minneapolis Rowing Club.

Sara has a US Rowing Level II Certification, and has completed training in CPR/AED, First Aid, Concussion Training Boat Safety and Licensed, and SafeSport.

I graduated Providence College with a double major in Spanish and Business and worked on Wall Street in International Finance for Merrill Lynch.

Coaching crew started for me in 2018 at Oyster Bay High School where I have taught since 2009. The teams that I coach include Girls and Boys Middle School, and Girls and Boys Novice and Varsity.

My recreation time is spent on Block Island where we purchased a house in 2000.

Assistant Coach Raquel “Rocky” Ribacoff is a trustee and a coach for OBCR. When not on the water coaching our novice athletes, she is the Group Fitness Manager at Equinox Gyms on Long Island and has won numerous awards for her public speaking in fitness, nutrition, and sports education.

Rocky has been a Master Rower for several years and has competed in several regattas with her OBCR team (Head of the Schuykill, IDR, Head of the Fish, etc). She has her CPR/AED certification, Safesport, and a boating license.

Interesting fact: Rocky is a certified Gemologist with the American Gem Society!

Rob began rowing at Fordham where he rowed for three years and graduated with a B.A. in History. He also holds a M.A. from Adelphi. After college, he served for a number of years as a member and a director of Empire State Rowing Association in the Bronx and continued as a recreational and open water rower. For a number of years, he coached the Middle School (Mod Squad) at Sagamore Rowing. Rob has been an ocean lifeguard for forty-one years and each summer is the Senior Training Officer for the Town of Hempstead’s Junior Ocean Lifeguard Program in Point Lookout. Professionally, Rob teaches at Garden City High School and has been involved in youth coaching including RVC Soccer and St. Agnes CYO swimming. His three daughters all learned to row at Sagamore, two of whom continued in D1 rowing programs. Rob is excited to continue introducing youth to the lifelong sport of rowing.

Certifications include:
NYS Boating Safety Certificate
NYS Teaching Certification K-5 and 6-12
Nassau County Grade III Ocean Lifeguard
CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
SafeSport Training

Dean comes to us from picking up the sport of rowing during his time at Bay Shore High School where he rowed alongside coach Matt Hobbes. He was recruited to row at La Salle University in Philadelphia in 2018. While at La Salle, he had participated in a host of racing on the university team. Having a seat in the 1v for his time, Dean rowed at all of the prestigious collegiate races: Head of the Charles, Princeton Chase, Dad Vails, IRA’s. After graduation this year, he has joined our staff as Assistant Coach!