Kumari Lewis Names Alex Natale as Rowing Assistant Coach

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama rowing head coach Kumari Lewis announced Tuesday the hiring of Alex Natale as assistant coach. Natale comes to Tuscaloosa after spending last season at Iowa as an assistant coach.

"I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with Alex," Lewis said." It is all about surrounding yourself with the right people to be successful and I'm grateful Alex chose Alabama to continue her coaching career. With her range of experience, competitiveness and tenacity, I am confident Alex will be a great fit for this team. Roll Tide."

Prior to Alabama, Natale brings coaching experience not only in the collegiate ranks but also at the high school level. She was most recently an assistant coach at Iowa where the Hawkeyes had its highest point total at the Big Ten Championship in program history.

"I am ecstatic to be joining Alabama rowing," Natale said. "This program is at such an exciting moment coming off a historic 2025-26 season, and I can't wait to keep that momentum building. It is a privilege to join Kumari's staff and work alongside such an incredible group of student-athletes and coaches."

Alex Natale Bio

Prior to Alabama, Natale spent one season at Iowa serving as an assistant coach
During her time at Iowa, Natale coached and developed the first, second, and third varsity fours in the spring
At the Big Ten Championship, the 1v4+ finished eighth overall, the 2v4+ finished eighth overall and the 3v4+ won the Petite final finishing seventh overall
As a team, the Hawkeyes placed ninth overall, earning the highest point total at the Big Ten Championship under head coach Jeff Garbutt
During the summer of 2026, Natale was an assistant coach for the Juniors Girls at Penn AC in Philadelphia, Pa.
While serving as an assistant coach for PennAC, the team traveled to Royal Canadian Henley, highlighted by second place finish by the U19 women's 8+
Prior to Iowa, Natale coached at Gwynedd Mercy Academy (2024-25) and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (2023-24) both in Philadelphia, Pa. guiding both teams to first-time record results
Led Gwynedd Mercy Academy to the gold medal at Stotesbury and SRAA Nationals, while representing the U.S. in the prestigious Groton School Challenge Cup for Junior 4+ at the Henley Women's Regatta

Rowing Experience

Was a student-athlete at Tennessee before completing her degree at Drexel
While at Drexel, Natale served as team captain
Earned First Team All-CAA honors and was a four-time CRCA Scholar Athlete
Set the Drexel program record for 2000m and 6000m ergometer records
Won a conference Championship in the V8+ while at Drexel
Received an invitation to the 2021 U.S. U23 National Team Selection Camp
Earned her bachelors degree in civil engineering
After competing her undergraduate career, Natale earned a Master of Science in Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition from Oxford Brookes University, where she received the Polar UK Prize for Most Outstanding Graduate Research in my field
Trained with the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club

University of Alabama Athletics