Karl Huhta enters his fifth year as a member of the Cougar coaching staff and his second year as the associate head coach. Formerly an intern coach at Washington State from 2008-10, Huhta returned to Pullman four seasons ago after a four-year absence.
In 2017-18, Huhta aided the rest of the coaching staff by getting the team to the 2018 NCAA Championships in Sarasota, Fla. Responsible for coaching the Varsity 4+, his crews had strong finishes at the San Diego Crew Classic and Clemson Invitational, notched regular season wins over Oregon State and Gonzaga, placed 4th at the Pac-12 Championships, and finished 11th overall at the NCAA Championships, helping the Cougars to a 14th place overall team finish. For their efforts, the staff were named the 2018 CRCA West Regional Staff of the Year, and this the second time Huhta has received this award.
In 2016-17, Huhta was an integral part to the coaching staff that saw the Cougars achieve and maintain status as a top-15 program all season. The season culminated with the Cougars placing 14th at the 2017 NCAA Championships in West Windsor, N.J. With Huhta’s guidance the Cougars went onto their third-straight top-four finish at the Pac-12 Rowing Championships. WSU fought hard to secure 4th place against top ranked talent, beating out No. 10 Virginia, at the Clemson Invitational.
In 2015-16, Huhta took over the recruiting and training of the Cougars’ novice student-athletes. At Gonzaga, the third and fourth varsity eights, consisting of some novice team members, defeated No. 19 Gonzaga by 10 and 7 seconds, respectively. The novices continued their successful run at the San Diego Crew Classic, finishing second in the grand final to No. 9 Texas. The third varsity eight also went on to finish first, second, and third, in three heats at the Clemson Invite, competing against crews that included No. 3 Virginia, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 8 Texas, and No. 10 Michigan. The regular season came to a close with a victory over Oregon State, as WSU went on to win a seventh-straight Winchell Cup. At the Pac-12 Championships, Huhta’s 3rd Varsity 8+ culminated their season by capturing the bronze medal, behind only Washington and California.
In 2014-15, Huhta was named the Cougar rowing Coordinator of Operations. WSU rowing placed eighth in the NCAA tournament, matching its second-best finish in school history and best since 2008. The team finished third overall in PAC-12 competition and the coaching staff was named the CRCA West Regional Staff of the Year.
In 2013-14, Huhta was a volunteer assistant women’s rowing coach at California. The Golden Bears were tabbed as the No. 1 team in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Poll twice in April and went on to place second at the 2014 NCAA Rowing Championships in Indianapolis, Ind.
Prior to his time at California, Huhta spent three seasons as a graduate assistant with the Central Florida women’s rowing team, while completing his Master's degree in Sport and Fitness, with an emphasis in Sport Leadership and Coaching.
While at UCF, Huhta spent two spring seasons coaching the varsity four boats, and one spring season coaching the novice eight crews. He was also the lead recruiter during his final two seasons at UCF.Â
As an intern coach at WSU, Huhta was a member of the staff that helped lead the Cougars to a 13th-place finish at the 2010 NCAA Rowing Championships at Gold River, Calif.
Huhta was a four-year member of the Washington State men’s club rowing team from 2004-08. He was elected team Commodore his senior year and was named to the 2008 All-Pacific 10 Conference Team. Huhta rowed with the varsity four crew that won the 2008 Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) Conference Championships, took silver at the 2008 Pacific Coast Rowing Championships (PCRCs) and competed in the 2008 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships. Huhta also rowed with the third-place varsity eight crew at the 2006 WIRA Championships, and finished 5th overall in the Varsity 4+ at the 2006 IRA Championships.
Huhta earned his bachelor's degree in Sport Management with minors in Business Administration and History from Washington State in 2009, before earning his USRowing Level III Coaching Certification in December 2010.Â
