TWO DUC STAFF MEMBERS NAMED TO USROWING LEADERSHIP GROUPS

By DUC Staff

Published December 2, 2025

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas United Crew is excited to announce that two of its staff members have been named to two USRowing Leadership groups.

As the sport continues positive growth and with Los Angeles set to host the 2028 Olympics, USRowing has initiated Leaderships Groups with the goal to improve community connections and help the sport grow.

Over 90 applicants expressed interest in joining these groups. 28 applicants were selected to represent the wide range of rowing disciplines nation-wide.

AUSTIN BROOKS has been selected to join the Team Leader Leadership Group to serve as a changemaker, help amplify opportunities for the rowing community, and help develop, promote and retain coaches.

Austin currently serves as the Executive Director at DUC, having arrived in 2022. Since his arrival, DUC has seen significant growth as an organization and redefined excellence in programs as well as involvement in the South Dallas area. Most notably, the expansion of the RowDallas campaign has boosted the accessibility of rowing in Texas through breaking down the barriers of entry to the sport.

WILL FORTEITH, M.Ed has been selected to join the Scholastic Leadership Group to collaborate with USRowing to provide better experiences for coaches, student-athletes, and administrators involved in this category of rowing.

Will recently joined the DUC Middle School program this fall. Prior to coming to DUC, Coach Forteith was the Head Coach at The Hockaday School and led the program to national acclaim over the course of six years. His experience in not just youth rowing, but the scholastic circuit is extensive - with experience at various schools across the country in the likes of Choate Rosemary Hall (CT), St Marks (TX), The Walker School (GA), and Blair Academy (NJ). Will was also a Founding Director at Row Georgia in Peachtree City, Georgia.

Will is currently the Dean of Students at the local Alcuin School and coaches at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Vermont over the summers.

These groups will work in tandem with USRowing decision makers, represent the wealth of experience across the country, and help promote a positive, enthusiastic rowing culture. DUC is excited to have two of their own provide insight and strategic input in tandem with USRowing decision makers.

Austin Brooks shared that he is “excited to collaborate with this group of like-minded leaders as we offer feedback and perspective on USRowing’s next stage of growth. Our community relies on all of us to contribute to a future that positions rowing as a lifelong, sustainable sport for all—because the active hands of many lift the sport higher.”

Dallas United Crew (DUC) is a North Texas powerhouse non-profit that hosts a half dozen in-house water sport communities to serve hundreds of athletes and enthusiasts in the DFW area. DUC is recruiting - if you are interested in signing up, please send an email to admin@dallasunitedcrew.org!