Coaching Staff
Connor Breen | Women’s Head Coach
Connor Breen became UCI’s Women’s Head Coach in 2024, bringing over a decade of rowing and coaching experience. His rowing journey began in 2011 at Newport Aquatic Center, where he earned a spot in the Varsity 8+ and developed a lifelong passion for the sport.
Since starting his coaching career in 2019 with Long Beach Junior Crew (LBJC), Connor has led multiple boats to medal at Youth Nationals, including a Men’s U17 4x that won the National Championship in 2023. A CSULB graduate with a BS in Kinesiology and certifications in strength, nutrition, and recovery, Connor combines his technical expertise with a deep commitment to athlete development.
Under his leadership, UCI’s rowers have shown rapid improvement, setting personal records and competing strongly against top programs. Known for his motto, “Be a problem,” Connor inspires his team to push boundaries and achieve their best.
In his own words: “I’m blessed to work with stellar athletes who reignite my passion every day. Together, we’re building something truly special.”
Mike Sullivan | Men’s Head Coach
Mike Sullivan learned to row at UCI in 1971 on what might have been the worst collegiate crew in the country never beating another crew that year. Bolstered by subsequent recruiting classes, Mike co-captained that same group of athletes to a close second to top ranked Washington and a top four ranking in the country. Mike and pair partner Bruce Ibbetson finished second in the world trials that summer.
Sullivan started coaching in 1977 after a post collegiate rowing career, coaching UCI freshman team and later varsity over a 7 year period finishing with two WIRA championships and coaching UCI athletes to the 1984 Olympic team.
Mike then moved to Stanford for a 30 year career in Information Technology writing business applications and early web applications for the University and SLAC. During that time Mike remained invested in the sport of rowing, founding a community program in Lakeport, Ca where he raised his family, and coaching promising elite scullers out of Redwood City at local clubs and Stanford. Mike also did short volunteer stints for the varsity and novice women’s and men’s teams over a 20 year period.
After retiring, Mike coached Novice Men at UC Davis where the team enjoyed a blossoming of large turnouts for the crew, and a 5th place finish for the novices at the ACRA club national championships.
Mike started at UCI again in 2020-21, bringing a fleet of rescued singles for the women’s and men’s team to row through the difficult Covid year. The scullers were very successful in local scrimmages winning both men’s and women’s races in Southern Cal and Las Vegas.
Coach Sullivan brings two unique perspectives to the sport. He trained at an elite level in singles and pairs post collegiately but just prior to 76 Olympic trials suffered from atrial fibrillation which ended his racing career. As disappointing as it was, Mike recognized the great intrinsic value of the effort to be the very best. Like few others, he knows what it takes to be on a very slow team and the work, focus, and trust it takes to be competitive with the very fastest crews.
Janet Cheung | Women’s Novice Coach
Janet returns to the storied UCI boathouse to join the Women’s team after a brief hiatus.
From 2014 to 2018, she coached the Men’s side as an Assistant Coach and directly contributed to Irvine Rowing’s high rate of retention, as well as the most entries, most Grand Final contestants and most medals awarded to-date at Regionals and Nationals in its 50+ year history.
The following season, she joined the Girl’s staff across the bay at Newport Aquatic Center where she sent the WV4+ (2021, 6th) and WU17 8+ (2022, 7th) to Nationals.
Her love for coaching lies in teaching novices about this unique sport and the personal development that extends beyond the boathouse. That passion was nurtured as a walk-on coxswain at University of the Pacific. From that point on, the path to coaching was paved through her heavy involvement with the collegiate team (Pacific Rowing), and Junior’s and Master’s programs (Deep Water Rowing Association).
Glad to be back and see some familiar faces along with many new ones, and extremely excited to aid in the pursuit of some new Irvine Rowing banners!