Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is pleased to announce the appointment of long-time coach and sport administrator Alan Roaf to the position of High Performance Director, a newly created role within the organization. Since the departure of Head Coach Brian Richardson last fall, RCA has re-defined the National Team leadership role. The HP Director will still be responsible for National Team activities, but will also act as an advisor and teacher to coaches at all levels. "We currently have some of the most accomplished coaches in the world, so to add a Head Coach to the mix did not meet our more important requirements," said Rowing Canada's VP High Performance Phil Monckton. "Alan's experience in the coaching of coaches, and his strong sport science and technical background, made him an ideal candidate for this position. Additionally, Alan is well known and well respected in the rowing and sport communities within Canada and internationally." In his new role, Alan Roaf, who is based in Victoria, B.C., will work closely with the coaching staff - Mike Spracklen (men), Al Morrow (women), Terry Paul (development), and assistants - to ensure the progress of all the National Team programs. This includes not only the performance of the crews on the water, but coaching and athlete development. Alan Roaf actively coached in Canada from 1967 to 1982. During that time, he coached men's and women's crews at the Olympics and World Championships, and his women's pair won a silver medal at the World Championships in 1978 and 1981. In 1982, Roaf completed a M.Sc. in Coaching Sciences, combining studies in sport psychology, exercise physiology and biomechanics. Following the completion of his Master's Degree, Alan became the State Director of Coaching for Queensland, Australia and was appointed the National Director of Coaching Education for Rowing Australia. During this period, Alan was responsible for creating the coaching certification program and for the training of coaches at state and national team levels. In 1986, Alan returned to Canada at the invitation of Sport Canada and the Coaching Association of Canada to be the first executive director of the National Coaching Institute. The NCI now has six centres across Canada and has produced numerous high performance coaches for our country. In 1990, he returned to Rowing Canada as Technical Director and then was named the organization's Executive Director in 1994 a position he will hold until a new director is found. "I am delighted at Alan's appointment and the experience and expertise he brings to this new role," said RCA President John Carmichael. "Alan's skills are in direct alignment with our strategy to develop the next generation of athletes and coaches from across Canada a process that has already begun with the growth of our development program while at the same time ensuring our continued march to success and gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008."