Our Coaches

Gracie Barbara

Head Coach

Gracie Barbara joined Santa Barbara Community Rowing in 2023 as Head Coach after coaching Division I women’s rowing for 6 years. Prior to becoming head coach, Barbara assistant coach at UCLA. Her responsibilities included leading the novice program and assisting in all aspects of varsity athlete development and program operation.

Prior to UCLA, Barbara, who graduated from Indiana University, spent three seasons on the women’s rowing coaching staff at the University of Alabama. She served as a graduate assistant for two seasons at the University of Louisville (2016-18) while obtaining her Masters degree in Sport Administration after having coached at T.C. Williams High School in Virginia. 

While at Alabama, Barbara helped the Crimson Tide secure their first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championships after being selected as one of 12 at-large teams (combined with 10 automatic qualifying teams) in the annual 22-team regatta. Alabama finished No. 13 in the event, leading the way among a four-team tie thanks to the performance by the varsity eight crew in the petite final.

Alabama’s coaching staff was named the 2021 Regional Staff of the Year by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) in June of 2021. The Alabama women’s rowing program reached its first top-10 ranking in program history that season. For the second consecutive year, Alabama placed second at the Big 12 Championships, securing a medal in all four races on Decker Lake. 

Barbara rowed for four seasons as an undergraduate at Indiana University (Bloomington, Ind.) from 2010-14. She helped the Hoosiers’ program qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time in program history in 2014. Indiana’s program finished No. 11, overall. After graduating from Indiana, she returned to her high school – T.C. Williams (Alexandria, Va.) – to coach the women’s second varsity eight to a silver medal at the Stotesbury Cup and to a bronze medal at the 2016 Scholastic Nationals.