Daniela Susnara serves as the head coach of Alabama Men’s Rowing, a role she has proudly held since 2013. Her rowing journey began in Northern California, where she competed for the Stanford Rowing Center (now Redwood Scullers) and Los Gatos Rowing Club. As a high school rower, she earned a 4th place finish at Youth Nationals in the Varsity 8+ and was later recruited to The University of Alabama, where she raced in the First Varsity 4+ as a freshman.  

Following the 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado, Susnara returned to the Bay Area for her sophomore year and served as the novice coach for Redwood Scullers. In 2012, she began volunteering as a novice coach with Alabama Men's Rowing while completing her undergraduate degree and officially became head coach in 2013.  

Susnara’s coaching credentials include a Level 2 US Rowing Coaching Certification and recognition as a US Rowing Coaches Conference Scholarship recipient in 2016. She also brings national experience from her work with Sparks Camps and College Counseling for Athletes, where she started as a program leader in 2017 and later served as the director of domestic rowing at the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Sarasota Crew, and Wesleyan University. In this role, she worked alongside renowned coaches and Olympians such as Nich Lee Parker, Peter Wiersum, Bill Manning, and Wesley Ng.  

In addition to coaching, Dr. Susnara completed her Ph.D. in Education from The University of Alabama in 2020 and currently serves as the Director of the Shelby Institute for Policy and Leadership. Under her leadership, Alabama Men's Rowing has competed in premier regattas including the San Diego Crew Classic, Head of the Schuylkill, Dad Vail Regatta, and Head of the Charles. The team has earned numerous medals at regional and national competitions, but Susnara’s most treasured moments come from the team’s inter-squad competitions at locations like Lake Lure (NC), Lake Guntersville, and Oak Mountain State Park.  

Ella Maggio has served as the assistant coach for Alabama Men’s Rowing since 2023. Her rowing journey began at the Capstone, where she walked on to the Alabama Women’s Rowing team and quickly emerged as a key contributor.

As a collegiate athlete, Ella rowed in the Varsity 8+ and earned numerous competitive and academic honors throughout her career:

2018–2019: 2nd place in the 3V4+ at the Big 12 Conference Championship; named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.

2019–2020: Named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and the SEC Academic Honor Roll; racing season canceled due to COVID-19.

2020–2021: Rowed in the 1V8+, earning 1st place at the Big 10 Invitational; 2nd at both the Longhorn Invitational and Lake Las Vegas Pac-12 Invitational; and 2nd at the Big 12 Conference Championship. Ella was part of Alabama’s historic first appearance at the 2021 NCAA Rowing Championship, where the 1V8+ placed 11th nationally and the team finished 17th overall. She was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll.

2021–2022: 1st place in the Women’s Pair at the Head of the Oklahoma; 2nd in the 1V8+ at the Lake Las Vegas Pac-12 Invitational; and 3rd in the 1V8+ at the Big 12 Conference Championship. Continued academic honors included Academic All-Big 12 First Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll.

Note: You may notice both SEC and Big 12 academic honors and competition results in Ella's record. Until 2025, rowing was not an SEC-sponsored sport, so the Alabama Women’s Rowing team competed in the Big 12 Conference. The SEC Rowing Championship inaugural race was officially held in May 2025.

In addition to coaching, Ella earned her Master’s in Education from The University of Alabama in 2022 and currently serves as the Program Manager for the Student Government Association at UA.

Among her favorite team traditions are the annual Black Warrior 500 and the joy shared when the team is joined at practice by their favorite assistant coaches, Lakey and Chance, the beloved boathouse dogs.