Western Washington University Athletics

Completed 26th season as head coach of the Vikings in 2024, leading WWU to its ninth national championship ... coached nine NCAA Division II National Championship Teams, including seven consecutive from 2005-2011 and again in 2017 and 2024 ... directed Vikings to 20 DII national regattas since they began in 2002, taking home team gold nine times, silver five times and bronze five times, reaching the podium a total of 19 times ... WWU was not selected in 2015 and 2021 and meet canceled because of COVID in 2020 ... Under Fuchs, Varsity 8 won seven times at nationals while placing second five times and third five times ... Varsity 4 won nine times while placing second three times and third four times ... totals are 16 firsts overall, eight seconds and nine thirds.
 
Western won national championships in 2017 and 2024 and seven in a row from 2005 to 2011. The Vikings were runner-up at nationals five times (2002, 2003, 2012, 2018 and 2022); and have been on the podium in all but one trip to nationals (2023 – 4th) with five third-place finishes (2004, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2019).

Under Fuchs’ leadership, WWU teams have ranked No.1 nationally 11 times in the final USRowing/Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association NCAA II National Poll (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2024) ... coached 38 CRCA All-Americans ... named CRCA NCAA II National Coach of the Year in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2017 ... headed Pocock/CRCA Division II Staff of the Year in 2017.

Named CRCA NCAA II West Region Coach of the Year in 2024 as well as part of Staff of the Year that season ... Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association Coach of the Year in 2011, 2016 and 2017 and Northwest Collegiate Rowing Conference Coach of the Year in 2001, 2005, 2007, and 2008.

Guided Western to two Great Northwest Athletic Conference titles in the four years that crown has been competed for (2021-24).

WWU men’s head rowing coach for two years (1998 and 1999). In 1999, directed varsity four to third place at the Intercollegiate Rowing Association National Championships ... WWU men's assistant rowing coach for six years (1989-95), coaching lightweights. In 1994, Vikings’ lightweight four placed first in grand final at Pacific Coast Rowing Championships ... competed in men's rowing at WWU for four years (1985-88), earning three letters as member of lightweight eight ... received bachelor's degree in recreation at WWU in 1988 ... coached former WWU rowers in men's lightweight pair that placed third at Pan American Games Trials in 1995 and mentored men's lightweight four that placed fifth at Olympic Trials in 1996 ... graduate of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma and native of Fircrest ... was a three-year letterwinner in golf during prep career.
 

Updated June 13, 2024