Staff Directory

Alexander Canale

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:

Alexander Canale joined the Columbia Women's rowing staff in 2022 as the program's assistant coach.

In 2026, Columbia earned its first-ever NCAA Championship appearance, racing in three Third Finals at Lake Lanier Olympic Park in Gainesville, Georgia. Columbia finished 15th in the Points Trophy Standings with 49 points. The Lions' historic season also featured a second place finish for the First Varsity Eight at Eastern Sprints. Columbia also finished in fourth place in the Varsity Eight Grand Final to headline the Lions' performances at the Ivy League Championship on the Cooper River. A day later, Columbia was selected to the NCAA Championship.

Canale was tabbed as part of Division I Region I Coaching Staff of the Year, as voted on by CRCA Member coaches. In addition, senior Emily Bukowski was selected as a CRCA Pocock All-American Honorable Mention. Bukowski raced out of the No. 2 seat in the First Varsity Eight boat that bested most of its regular season opponents (Boston College, UConn, Holy Cross, Northeastern, Navy, UMass, Bucknell, URI, Cornell, Temple, Rutgers, Notre Dame, BU, Harvard-Radcliffe, and Dartmouth), while only falling to Brown.

Canale came to Columbia University after spending the last five seasons as the head coach of women's rowing at Manhattan College. During his tenure, he built up the newly elevated Division I Jaspers program to be competitive in their conference and the region. Under his guidance, the women's team recorded its highest finish in each boat class at the conference championship, earned its first guaranteed entry to the Head of the Charles Regatta with a top-ten finish in the Collegiate four, two bronze medals and a gold medal at the New York State Championship 2022, and a bronze medal at the Dad Vails that same year.

Before his time at Manhattan, Canale was the founder of the Saint Peter's Prep rowing program where he continues to serve as one of the program's coaches. Canale also serves as the head coach and program director for the New York Rowing Association (NYRA), coordinating year round racing and summer training opportunities for U19 and U23 athletes.

A former student-athlete at Loyola University (MD), Canale was a member of the Greyhounds' rowing team that was the conference runner up for four years (2006-2009). Canale completed his undergraduate degree with a Bachelor's of Science in chemistry. He earned his Master's Degree in educational leadership from Saint Peter's University in 2014.