Parker Hughes is the newest addition to Washington State swimming’s coaching staff, with head coach Russell Whitaker announcing him as an assistant coach.
Hughes arrives in Pullman after a collegiate career that began at Michigan and finished at TCU. He spent his first two seasons with the Wolverines, where he helped Michigan win the Big Ten Conference Championships in 2019 and went on to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2020 and 2021.
His final three seasons came at TCU, where he served as team captain for his last two years and picked up CSC Academic All-District honors. Hughes also leaves college with a strong academic résumé, earning a bachelor’s degree in applied exercise science from Michigan, then a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness and a master’s degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics from TCU.
Whitaker said Hughes stood out early in the process.
“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!”
Hughes said he was eager to get started with the Cougars and praised the direction of the program.
“I am very excited to join a Swim Team and Athletic Department with such cohesion and drive towards excellence,” Hughes said. “ 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 recently defended his thesis on mechanical determinants of maximal sprint velocities in the four competitive swimming strokes, work that allowed him to collect and study data from some of the sport’s top athletes and coaches.
In Other News...
Gesa Field Change Could Have Cougars Fans Rethinking Their Seats
Washington State football is preparing for a noticeable shift at Gesa Field in 2026, with the home sideline moving to the south side and the visiting team crossing over to the north. It is the kind of change that sounds small on paper but can ripple through the game-day routine, especially for fans who have spent years settling into the same sections and sightlines.
Season ticket holders now have a window to ask about seat relocations before single-game tickets hit the market later in July, when options figure to tighten up. The adjustment is part of broader fan experience improvements and updated Pac-12 policy, and for Cougars supporters it may be the first real chance to decide whether their familiar view still feels like the best one. [Read more 🡒]
Cougars Star Earns Rare National Honor That Says Everything About WSU
Washington States outdoor track program added another layer to an already impressive spring, with the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association handing out nine academic honors to the 2025-26 Cougars. Both the mens and womens teams were recognized as All-Academic Teams, and six athletes landed All-Academic Scholar Athlete distinction, a sign that the programs success is carrying well beyond the oval.
Rosemary Longisa was among that group, joined by Mercy Biwott, Caroline Jepkorir, Solomon Kipchoge, Josphat Meli and Kutoven Stevens. For WSU, the bigger takeaway is how the accolades keep stacking up around a roster that has already shown it can compete at a national level, and Longisas recognition adds another notable mark to a season that has put the Cougars in a rare spotlight. [Read more 🡒]