LA JOLLA, Calif. — UC San Diego Athletics announced Thursday that Hugo Moon has been named the new head coach of the women's rowing program.

Moon brings a wide range of knowledge to La Jolla, most recently serving as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Tulsa.

"I'm delighted to begin this new chapter of my coaching career at UC San Diego," said Moon. "Becoming a Division I head coach has been a longtime goal of mine, and I'm incredibly grateful to Director of Athletics Andy Fee, rowing supervisor Todd Greenbaum, and everyone in the department for the opportunity to lead this program at such an outstanding institution."

"Hugo brought something unique to this search – an exciting, forward-thinking vision for what Triton rowing can become, not just where it's been," said UC San Diego Director of Athletics Andy Fee. "We are thrilled for Hugo and his wife Katie to join our Triton family. I'm looking forward to watching him build something special, both on the water and in the classroom."

Moon inherits a program that will be the first UC San Diego team to compete as a member of the West Coast Conference for the 2026-27 academic year. The remainder of the Triton programs will join the conference on July 1, 2027.
 
"It is especially exciting to join the Tritons as the program prepares to compete in the West Coast Conference," said Moon. "There is tremendous talent and potential within this team, and I cannot wait to get started as we work toward competing for a conference championship."

Moon spent just under four years with the University of Tulsa women's rowing team. He oversaw all aspects of the recruiting process, including identifying talented student-athletes at the domestic and international levels. He helped the Golden Hurricane collect three second-place finishes in the American and Big 12 Conferences.

Prior to his time at Tulsa, Hugo was the head coach and rowing director at Gainesville Rowing in Florida. He oversaw both the Youth and Masters programs and directly managed a squad of more than 30 Varsity athletes.

Moon also spent time at Washington State University as a graduate assistant as well as head coach of the women's club team. The club squad earned a pair of second-place finishes at the 2019 American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) National Championships. In 2018, the team collected third-place and fifth-place finishes at the ACRA nationals.

As a coxswain, Moon helped the Star Club Men's Varsity 8 boat advance to the final of the Thames Cup at the 2011 Henley Royal Regatta. 

Moon earned a Master of Science in Sports Management from Washington State in 2019. He also has a bachelor's degree from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.

Moon takes over for Colin Truex, who stepped down from the head coach position in June of 2026.

Hugo will be joined in San Diego by his wife, Katie Moon, an Olympic gold and silver medalist and three-time world champion in the pole vault.
 

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About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of The Big West in NCAA Division I. The 24-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 39 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 90 percent, the highest rate among public institutions in NCAA Division I or II. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.