Matt Fanny was born in Concord, NH in 1973.  He graduated Concord High School in 1992, and attended Drake University the following autumn.  Matt discovered rowing in college and soon fell in love with the sport, rowing four years at Drake University as well as being team manager for three years.  After graduation, Matt volunteered as an Assistant Coach at Drake for a year before being named as a full-time Assistant Coach at Hobart College and William Smith College.  

Matt then started pursuing his degree in higher education at West Virginia University where he coached for both the men’s and the women's teams.  Following graduation, he taught high school science and left the sport for a few years.  Missing the sport, he returned to coaching at the high school level and has spent the last nine years teaching and coaching in Northern Virginia.  He is experienced in coaching both the men’s and women’s novice and varsity programs at the high school level.  His proudest accomplishments have been seeing athletes he has coached go on to be successful young adults, both in college and beyond.

Margie Ellison comes to Peachtree City from Orlando, FL, where she coached a successful high school rowing program for a year and a half.  In addition to rowing, Margie is a Training and Nutrition Coach with Complete Human Performance where she works with clients and athletes from a diverse background such as triathletes, cyclists, powerlifters, and many others.  She is passionate about rowing, fitness and nutrition, and enjoys sharing her love of these sports with others.  She is an AFAA certified Personal Trainer and holds a Level 1 Certification in Precision Nutrition as well as a Level 2 Coaching Certification with US Rowing.

Margie was a Division 1 collegiate rower at Stetson University where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Family Business.  In her free time and in addition to rowing, Margie enjoys training for and competing in bodybuilding competitions, cycling races and triathlons. She is a ‘Dog Mom’ to an adorable lab mix and enjoys traveling, riding her motorcycle and spending time outdoors.

"Coach Mat" grew up in Fayetteville, Georgia and was initially exposed to rowing upon his older brother's joining the Georgia Tech Crew.  He then learned of his father's brief time rowing for Purdue, his grandfather rowing for Cornell, as well as a great-grandfather who competed in the sport.

Mat stepped into rowing while attending Georgia Tech where he rowed for four years.  During his last year at Tech, Mat coached the Men's Novice Crew.  In addition to assisting Coach Dawn, Mat is also pursuing his aspirations of becoming a Naval Aviator.