BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The nine-time national champion Western Washington University women's rowing team didn't have to look far to find its next head coach.
 
Longtime assistant coach and former national champion student-athlete Courtney Moeller has been appointed as the program's new head coach taking over for John Fuchs, who retired this summer after 26 years leading the Vikings and 40 total years at WWU.
 
"We certainly did not have to look far to find what we believe is a natural fit to lead our highly-successful women's rowing program," said WWU Director of Athletics Jim Sterk. "Courtney is a true Viking and has so much passion for this program. A national champion student-athlete and coach, we are thrilled to have Courtney leading our program and look forward to continued success both in the classroom and competition."
 
Moeller, 41, is a natural fit to take over the program coming off winning the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Western alum (Sociology, 2005) was a member of the rowing program as a student-athlete, helping lead the Vikings to the 2005 national title in the stroke seat of the Varsity 4+. The 2005 national title was the first of the Vikings nine national titles, starting an incredible streak of seven consecutive national championships for the program at the NCAA II level.
 
In her time as a coach with the Vikings, WWU participated at the national regatta in seven of eight possible seasons. Highlights including the Vikings winning national championships in 2017 and 2024, GNAC titles in 2022 and 2024 and being selected as the CRCA National Division II Coach of the Year in 2024. The program also has a reputation for sustained success in the classroom with 36 CRCA Scholar Athletes since the 2016 season.
 
"I am truly honored to step into the role of head coach for WWU Rowing. As a former student-athlete this program holds a special place in my heart, and I am excited to contribute to its storied legacy," said Moeller, "I am grateful to Jim Sterk and the entire department for this opportunity and deeply appreciative of Coach Fuchs for his invaluable mentorship and guidance over the years. Together with our talented student-athletes and dedicated staff, I look forward to building on our strong foundation and continuing the tradition of excellence that defines WWU Rowing."
 
A native of Renton and product of Liberty High School, Moeller has built her rowing coaching resume as a program director and head coach for Sammamish Rowing Association, and as the operations manager at the Renton Rowing Center. Most recently she also helped grow participation serving as the program director for Whatcom Rowing Association.
 
Moeller officially started her role as head coach on September 1 and will begin forming the 2025 roster in the coming weeks beginning with an informational meeting for returning and prospective student-athletes on September 27 in Carver Gym.
  WWU Rowing is one of the elite collegiate rowing programs in the country, having won nine NCAA Division II National Championships. The Vikings won the 2024 NCAA II National Title, the 2017 title, placed 2nd in 2018, 3rd in 2019 and runner-up in 2022. WWU has competed in the NCAA Championships in 20 of the 22 NCAA Division II national regattas, taking home the gold (9 times), silver (5 times) and bronze (5) medal 19 times in the 22 years the NCAA Division II team title has been awarded, and reached the podium 19 times. Western won seven consecutive DII national championships from 2005-2011.
 
WWU Rowing Inside the Numbers:
20 – NCAA II Rowing Championship Appearances (out of 22)
16 – Individual Championships (Eight-7, Fours-9)
9 – National Championships (2005-11, 2017, 2024)
5 – National Runner-Up Finishes
5 – 3rd Place Finishes at Nationals
2 – GNAC Championships (in 4-year history of event)