The Conibear Rowing Club has a distinguished coaching tradition, beginning with its first coach, the late Dick Erickson, whose passing in the summer of 2001 was mourned by thousands.

Erickson was the renowned University of Washington rowing coach and creator of Opening Day, one of the world's largest and most successful regattas enjoyed by tens of thousands each May on the Montlake Cut. Once a UW rower himself, Erickson revived the glory of the UW rowing program when he took over as coach in 1968. Perhaps the peak of his tenure came when the UW varsity beat the British national crew in the 1977 Henley finals.

Today, Conibear's head coach is Sara Lopez, owner of a lengthy and impressive resume in event organization, coaching, and physical and special education. Sara has been involved with the Olympic and Goodwill Games as well as US Rowing. As a collegiate rower at Pacific Lutheran University, Sara won the 1983 Northwest Regionals in the pair.

Eleanor McElvaine, the former head coach of the UW women's crew program and a national championship rower for the UW, is currently volunteering as an assistant coach for Conibear. With a strong coaching background that includes serving as head coach for Conibear in the late 1980's, Eleanor brings strong technical expertise and superb motivational skills to the club.