Coach Clemens Reinke
Clemens began coaching for his German rowing club, the “Ruderverein Wandsbek, Hamburg,” in 1981 and completed his Coaching-B license from the German Rowing Association in 1983. In the United States, Clemens has coached Youth, Collegiate, and Masters rowers at Nereid Boat Club, the Passaic River Rowing Association, Don Bosco Preparatory High School, Teaneck High School, and Bergen Catholic High School. Between 2000 and 2010, Clemens was a visiting coach each summer at the Craftsbury Sculling Camp. In 2014, he founded the Bergen County Rowing Academy, which he currently heads up. From 2018 to 2026, Clemens coached as the Head Women’s & Men’s Rowing Coach at SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx, NY. Clemens holds coaching certificates from the German Rowing Association (Deutscher Ruderverband, Level B) and the U.S. Rowing Association, completing his Level 3 Certificate in 2025. Annually, he used to attend the Joy of Sculling Coaches Conference and USRowing Coaches Conference to further educate himself as a coach. He also holds a substitute teacher's license in Bergen County and all certifications required for high school coaches.
Coach Clemens began his rowing career in Germany in the mid-1970's, winning four German Scholastic and Junior Championship titles and several silver medals in the single, as well as doubles and quads. In 1978 and 1979, Clemens won the Junior Single event at the Molesey Boat Club Head Race on the River Thames in England. He was part of the German National Junior Team and trained with world champion sculler Peter Michael Kolbe. In 1979, Clemens medaled Gold for Germany at an International Youth Regatta in Villach, Austria. As a Master's rower, Clemens competed many times in the Head of the Charles Regatta. In 2013, he won his race at the World Masters Regatta in Varese, Italy, in the Men’s Masters D Single Scull.
Outside of rowing, Clemens teaches Philosophy & Religion at Bergen Community College and Montclair State University.
Private Lessons: Coach Clemens is available for private lessons: $100 - one hour. To set up a mutually agreeable time please contact Coach Clemens via eMail (click here).
Clemens Reinke • Summer 2008
Clemens Reinke in July 1979 having received the gold medal at the International Youth Regatta in Villach, Austria.
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FISA World Masters Regatta 2013 - Varese, Italy
