Our Coaches

Phil Vargas

Women's Varsity Head Coach & Program Director

Coach Vargas joined the Robinson coaching staff in 2022 as the novice women’s coach and became head coach in 2023 to lead the varsity women’s team. He has been coaching high school rowing since 2016 and has coached both eights and fours to multiple podium finishes to include a 2nd place in the women’s varsity 4 at the 2021 Virginia Scholastic Rowing Championships and a 3rd place for the Robinson women’s 3rd 8 at the 2023 VSRC.

Coach Vargas also coaches cross country and helped lead the women’s team to a 2nd place finish at the VHSL State Championships.

His passion for rowing started as a sophomore at Lake Braddock and led to joining the UVA men’s crew team in his first year. Now, Coach Vargas aims to help others find their passion and drive for the sport and lead the Robinson women to success.

Sean Corcoran

Men’s Varsity Head Coach

Coach Corcoran is returning to coaching after a hiatus. He is the Men’s Varsity Head Coach. A native of Philadelphia, he started rowing at Father Judge High School and won at the Stotesbury Cup Regatta. He continued to have success in club rowing in both sweeping and sculling as a member of programs with Vesper Boat Club, Crescent Boat Club and Penn AC. This included wins at Club Nationals and Canadian Henley. He was a four year member of the Boston University Varsity Men’s’ Crew, competing in the Eastern Sprints.

He began coaching at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He served as program coordinator at Boston University Academy. Upon arriving in the DC area, he coached sculling at Alexandria Community Rowing Masters. Professionally, he has served in local Public safety for over 23 years.

A long time student of the sport, he hopes to develop athletes with a love of the sport, achieving success both on and off the river.

Dale DePue
Women's Coach

Coach Dale got her first rowing experience competing as a walk-on athlete her sophomore year at Boston University. Being a lightweight and shorter rower on a tall, heavyweight team was no easy feat, especially when their Varsity boat won the Eastern Sprints and National Championships a few years in a row but she pursued and was even invited to National Lightweight Camp. Unfortunately, a back injury and her Physical Therapy internships prohibited her from attending the camp. Rowing always fulfilled her passion for competition, physical fitness and being part of a team, but it also forced her to stay organized and maximize her study time at college leading to success both in school and rowing.

She later went on to become a Physical Therapist, Certified Pilates Instructor and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). She currently works in all three capacities continuing her passion to help others improve movement, strength, endurance, functional capacity and a love for staying active. Over the years of many military moves, she was unable to find a local rowing program but did get to compete on the water in Dragon boats and outriggers in Okinawa, Japan. When she returned to the US and learned about the high school team at her sons’ school, she agreed to help coach Robinson’s Girls’ team in 2022 and is excited to return and support them again this year. She strives to encourage all levels of athletes to appreciate, develop and progressively master the many physical and emotional challenges that rowing has to offer then increasing their resiliency for life’s challenges in the future.

Cecilia Orlandella
Women's Coach

Coach Orlandella grew up in Chatham on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and began rowing in middle school with Cape Cod Youth Rowing. Over six years with the program, she discovered her passion for coxing and competed at major regattas, including the Head of the Fish in Saratoga, NY, and the Head of the Charles—where she raced four times.

Coach Orlandella was recruited to George Mason University as a coxswain, where she competed for four years, racing in the Atlantic 10 Championships for four consecutive seasons. During her time at Mason, she served as team captain and a member of the leadership council, spending most of her collegiate career as the varsity head coxswain. In that role, she led and mentored her teammates both on and off the water.

This is Coach Orlandella’s first year coaching with the Robinson novice team. She brings to the program a strong racing background, proven leadership experience, and deep enthusiasm for the sport. Beyond rowing, she carries that same dedication and passion into her work as a multiple disabilities teacher at Robinson Secondary School.

Aaron James
Men's Coach

As a graduate of Robinson in 2017, Aaron is beyond excited to come home and coach at his Alma Mater. He started at Robinson Crew in his junior year of high school and truly didn't know anyone at the beginning; Robinson Rowing gave him a family, friends, and lifelong connections when he needed them most. Having rowed on the 1V during both seasons of high school and continued to row while in college at JMU, it makes him proud to continue his rowing career as a coach at the very program that cemented his love for the sport. In Aaron's free time (the little of it he has) he enjoys playing guitar, weight lifting, and spending time with those he holds dear.

While he doesn't have a ton of free time as he is currently working to finish my nursing degree, every second Aaron gets he will give to this team to ensure that these boys become skilled rowers and respectful competitors, and have a true passion for the sport.