Austin WORK — head coach
Austin Work has been a part of the rowing community for most of his life, starting his rowing career At Salisbury school (Salisbury, CT). he then attended and rowed for Lewis and Clark College (Portland, OR) where he was named Team Captain in his senior year (2002).
In 2005, Austin started his career in coaching as the novice coach for the Lincoln Park Juniors (now known as Chicago Rowing Foundation). There he led his crews to four nearly undefeated seasons, four Midwest Regional Championship wins, and several top 10 LWT 8+ finishes at the USRowing youth National Championships.
Coach Work then became the Novice Coach for Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA) in 2009. On the Charles River, Coach work’s Crews were five time “Seven Sisters” Champions, five time Newmac Conference Champions, two time NERC Champions, and one time ECAC Champions. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in 2013.
Work was named the director of rowing at the Austin Rowing Club (Austin, TX) in 2014. There, his Junior crews consistently finished in the top 10% of their local and regional competitions where they regularly qualified (and medaled) at USRowing’s Youth National championships. In 2018 Work was named the director of rowing at Vero Beach Rowing Club in Vero Beach, FL. in 2019, work was hired as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for The Michigan State University Women.
Work, and Stella the dog, are starting excited to start their 6th season with the Tarheels!
Email: austin.work@unc.edu
Masato Miyagi - Assistant Coach
Masato joined the UNC Men's Rowing staff in the Fall of 2022 after a move from Cleveland, Ohio.
He started his rowing career with Shaker Heights High School's inaugural men's program. He then went on to row at Case Western Reserve University (B.A. '17). After transitioning to the coxswain's seat in his second year, CWRU had a run of program high finishes at Head of the Charles, Lubber's Cup, and Dad Vails. He earned himself the "Spartan of the Year" award from his coaches and teammates in 2016.
Masato moved to North Carolina in 2020 while completing his MBA at University of Florida. Outside of rowing, you'll find him riding bikes, camping, or watching movies. At his day job, Masato works for UNC's Development Office.
Kathryn Barth - Assistant Coach
Kathryn took her first rowing strokes at Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA) where she never left the podium at the NCAA Championships, winning the title in 2015. Kathryn first began coaching at Seattle Prep High School where she worked with both the men’s and women’s teams while teaching chemistry. Following that, she moved to New Haven, Ct to attend Yale where she got her PhD in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. There she enjoyed working with the graduate team as a rower, coach, and oversized coxswain.
Kathryn recently moved to NC for a scientist position at ForagR Medicines in Chapel Hill. When not working she can be found hiking in the woods with her partner Bryan and their two awesome dogs, or trying out new recipes at home in Durham. She is excited to be entering her first spring season with the Tarheels!
Grace Thomas - Assistant Coach
Grace started her coxing career in 2018 at the Pioneer Rowing Club (Ann arbor, MI). After getting recruited by Michigan State University, Grace competed all four years with the spartans, graduating in the Spring of 2025. Grace first began coaching at Washtenaw Rowing Center in Ann Arbor, where she has worked with athletes at both the middle school and high school level.
Grace recently began a masters program in speech-language pathology here at unc. She loves in Carborro, right near university lake, and is very excited to begin her first spring as a coach for the Tarheels!