COACHES



Nathan Lantz
Head Coach & Program Director
Since 2011
Nathan Lantz began coaching with the program in Fall 2009 as a volunteer coach. In the Spring of 2011, as the Freshman Coach, his crews won their first ACRA medal- a silver in the Women's Novice 4+ event. Since then he has coached 4 SIRA Regional medaling crews, and 3 ACRA National Championship medaling crews, and been the South Region Women's Coach of the year.
Nathan is also honored to have served 6 years on the ACRA National Championship Board of Directors as the South Region Rep and Awards Chair.
Nathan is a graduate of the University of Georgia and currently lives with his wife and fellow Bulldog fan Kate Lantz in Athens, GA.


Sidney Counsell
Director of Women's Rowing
Since 2022
Sidney began studying and rowing at the University of Georgia in Fall of 2018. In her 4 years rowing, Sidney consistently was a member of top 10 regional and national crews. She also individually holds positions on team top-10 record lists for the rowing machine. Sidney also served as the Women's Team Captain her Junior and Senior years. In Spring of 2022, she was awarded South All-Region Team honors and Academic All-American honors. Sidney is also an avid endurance athlete, having run several marathons in her time at the University!
Sidney graduated from the University of Georgia's Terry business school in Spring of 2022 with degrees in Finance, Management, and International Business. She is currently completing an internship with UGA's Wesley Foundation in Athens, GA.


Denham Jones
Assistant Varsity Men's Coach
Since 2022
Denham is a recent graduate of the University of Georgia, and began his rowing career in 2018 at the University. As one of only two senior men's rowers in 2022, Denham ended his competitive time at UGA, receiving American Collegiate Rowing Association South All-Region Team Honors and with a 3rd place finish in the National Championship Men's Quad- the first ever Varsity Men's medal at the ACRA National Championship race. Denham returns to us as a coach, and hopes to help our crew put new names on leaderboards and medals around necks.


Makenzie Grilliot
Volunteer Coach
Since 2022
Makenzie began studying and rowing at the University of Georgia in the Fall of 2016. She was a member of a Freshman Women's 8+ that almost went undefeated during the 2016-2017 season, taking 2nd place at the 2017 ACRA National Championship Regatta. She went on to be a member of regionally and nationally ranked crews, receiving South All-Region Team, National All-American Team, and Academic All-American honors . Along the way she also set multiple individual team records and crew records, and spent her final year on the team serving as the Women's Captain.
Makenzie graduated from the University of Georgia in 2020 with a Bachelors in Exercise and Sport Science. She then went on to get her Masters from Augusta University as a PA and is currently living and working in nearby Watkinsville, GA.