CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Washington State rowing staff has been named the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Region 5 Staff of the Year, the organization announced Monday. 

The Staff of the Year award is intended to recognize a staff that fits one or more of the following criteria: outstanding success during the current season, demonstrated great team improvement from the prior season, fulfilled team's potential and demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity as coaches. 

This marks the second time WSU has picked up staff of the year regional honors, having also receiving them in 2015. 

WSU's staff consists of head coach Jane LaRiviere who just completed her 16th season, associate head coach Karl Huhta, in his fourth season on staff and first as associate head coach, assistant/novice coach Brandon Campbell in his third year, and first-year staff members; graduate assistant and now assistant coach, Dave Kempsell, and coordinator of operations, Amy Van Buskirk.

This season the Cougars finished 14th at the 2018 NCAA Championships after entering the championships ranked 17th. WSU bettered its seeds in all three events, finishing 14th in both the varsity eight and second varsity eight races and 12th in the varsity four event. The Cougars have been ranked in the CRCA Division I Poll presented by Pocock Racing Shells for 107-consecutive weeks, dating back to June 11, 2008.