Santa Clara University

Kaitz brings more than three decades of coaching experience and a proven record of developing athletes and championship-caliber programs at the collegiate, junior, masters and elite levels. His coaching philosophy is built on three foundational principles: identifying and developing talent, creating a culture in which student-athletes can become their best selves, and fostering passion for the pursuit of excellence. He believes that every athlete has the potential to achieve greatness when strong standards, discipline, commitment and effective communication are combined with a genuine desire to improve. A hallmark of his approach is the ability to teach skills in multiple ways, recognizing that every athlete learns differently and that exceptional coaching requires meeting athletes where they are.

Throughout his career, Kaitz has guided inexperienced rowers to national-level success, earned numerous national championships at the collegiate and masters levels, coached crews to collegiate regional and national championships, and developed athletes competing at the highest levels of the sport, including world-record performances. He views coaching as the process of bringing out an athlete’s true ability—creating the environment, confidence and passion that allow individuals and teams to discover just how good they can become.