'Cuse Promotes Ochal and Adds Two Coaches

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange rowing coaching staff will have a new look in 2021-22 with the promotion of Claire Ochal to assistant coach/director of recruiting and the hiring of veteran coach Rob Weber and former 'Cuse rower Ashley Johnson '18.

A three-year assistant coach at Syracuse, Ochal adds the title of director of recruiting to her title. Her responsibilities will include working with the varsity eight and second varsity eight and directing the recruiting operations for the program. A three-year captain who was the stroke for the varsity eight at Boston University (2012), Ochal has served as the U23 women's head coach at PNRA/Mercer, at Temple University and for the nationally acclaimed Long Beach Junior Crew.

Weber joins the Orange staff after leading several collegiate rowing programs during the past 15 years, including as the Cambridge University Boat Club chief women's and lightweight coach for the past three years. He guided the team to a second-place finish at the 2021 Henley Women's Regatta and to 11 medals and the women's Victor Ludorum Trophy as the overall team points winner at the British Universities and College Sport Championship Regatta.

Prior to Cambridge, Weber served as the head coach for the men's and women's rowing programs at Hamilton College from 2014 to 2018 and at Franklin and Marshall from 2010 through 2014. He has also coached at the Pennsylvania Athletic Club Rowing Association, Savannah College of Art & Design and The College of William & Mary. Weber also spent six years as an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's Senior and Under 23 National Teams from 2013 through 2018.

A 1995 graduate of Wabash College with a BA in history, Weber rowed for the school's crew club for two years and competed for the University of Aberdeen in Scotland during a study abroad year. Weber also earned master's degrees from The College of William and Mary (American history) and the University of Kentucky (Master of Library & Information Science).

A three-year Syracuse letter winner, Johnson stroked the 2018 varsity eight that finished 16^th at the NCAA Championship and second at the ACC Championship. Johnson earned All-ACC First Team honors and was honored as an ACC All-Academic Team honoree. In her junior season, Johnson rowed bow seat in the varsity eight that finished 15^th at the 2017 NCAA Championship and won a bronze medal at the ACC Championship. Johnson was also in the bow for the 2016 varsity eight that finished 12^th and led the team to a 13^th place finish at the NCAA Championship. After graduation she rowed for the United States at the 2018 U23 World Championship in Poland in a double with Syracuse graduate Sydney Michalak, where they finished 18^th.

For the past three years Johnson has been an assistant coach for the Saratoga Rowing Association serving as the varsity girls coach since 2018 and served as the webmaster and onboarding coordinator for the past year. She also worked as a rowing coach for the Air Force Wounded Warrior organization, virtually assisting veterans with mental and physical rehabilitation through rowing. In addition, she trained and selected athletes for participation in the Warrior Games. During the summer of 2021, Johnson served as the head coach of the USRowing Junior National Team Olympic Development Program for the Northeast Region.

Johnson, who was born in Indonesia and grew up in Buffalo, NY, earned her Syracuse degree in economics.

For all of the latest information on Syracuse rowing, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Women's Rowing), Twitter and Instagram (@cusewrowing).

Syracuse University Athletics

Related Videos