Washington State Hires Parker Hughes as Assistant Coach
Washington State on Wednesday announced the hiring of Parker Hughes as an assistant coach for its women’s swimming and diving team.
Hughes joins the staff of head coach of Russell Whitaker. Hughes swam for two seasons at the University of Michigan and then three seasons at TCU, the final two as a team captain.
“I am very excited to join a Swim Team and Athletic Department with such cohesion and drive towards excellence,” Hughes said in a university press release. “These characteristics were apparent from the beginning, and I am eager to continue building on these en route to a Conference Championship. Thank you to Coach Russell Whitaker, Jim Spooner, and Jon Haarlow for the opportunity, I can’t wait to get to work! Go Cougs!”
Hughes was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree as a Wolverine and twice recognized as a CSCA Academic All-District honoree at TCU. He earned a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science at Michigan and a bachelor’s in health and fitness from TCU. He went on to a master’s degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics from TCU, recently defending a thesis on “mechanical determinants of maximal sprint velocities” in the four swimming strokes.
“From the moment Parker stepped foot on campus I knew we had found the right person,” Whitaker said. “Parker’s alignment with our vision, goals, and core values as a program stood out to us immediately through the hiring process. Parker has a passion like no other for the sport of swimming. That is shown from his experience as a student-athlete and his continued research and involvement in the sport with his thesis on swimming. We are excited to welcome Parker to the Cougar family and for all that he will bring! Congrats Parker!”
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