Our Coaches

Courtney Moeller
Program Director
Courtney is in her sixth year as the top assistant for the WWU Rowing program, in 2017 she helped to lead the Vikings to their eighth NCAA DII National Championship and as assistant coach was recognized as the Vikings were named the DII 2017 Staff of the year. Before coming to Bellingham in 2015 to coach the Vikings she coached the previous 10 years in the greater Seattle area. Two as operations manager of Renton Rowing Center, a community boathouse of the George Pocock Rowing Foundation, following eight as program director and junior women’s coach for Sammamish Rowing Association. In 2014, as junior women’s coach at PRC, her first novice eight, second novice eight and novice four all placed first at Northwest Junior Regionals. While at SRA, her teams captured points trophy championships at Brentwood Regatta four straight years (2008-11). Her varsity eight was victorious at Brentwood Regatta, Opening Day Regatta and Northwest Junior Regionals in both 2010 and 2011. Her crews made appearances at U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships from 2008 to 2012, including fifth place finish by lightweight eight in 2009 and sixth place finish by varsity eight in 2010. Her Masters crews were regular contenders for medals at both local and national regattas including Tail of the Lake, Head of the Charles, Head of the Lake, Opening Day, and NW Masters Regionals. Member of WWU’s first NCAA Division II national championship team in 2005 as stroke of varsity four. Holds U.S. Rowing Level III coaching certificate. When she’s not at the boathouse coaching she can be found hitting the hiking trails or paddle-boarding with her right-hand girl, Lexie the Dog!

Sam Bloom
Juniors Coach
Sam began his rowing journey in 2015 as a coxswain for Bainbridge Island Rowing during the fall semester of his freshman year of high school. He immediately fell in love with the sport and his position. It wasn’t until his sophomore year of high school that he embraced the competitive aspect of the sport, after watching his teammates compete at the 2017 USRowing Youth National Championships. After Sam set his sights on a nationals qualifying boat, he strived to be the best coxswain he could be and built his experience with as many opportunities on the water as possible. He began to cox the BIR masters team alongside juniors, competing at the 2018 Windermere Cup in the Men’s 55+ 8+ and walking away with a gold medal, as well as the 2018 Masters National Championships, with two silver medals and a bronze medal in various events. He had also attended multiple coxswain development camps, including The 9th Seat, directed by 3x Olympic coxswain Mary Whipple. The following year Sam‘s hard work paid off, as he qualified for the 2019 Youth National Championships in the Men’s Lightweight 8+, finishing 14th in the nation. After graduating from high school, Sam began working as an assistant coach at BIR until he continued on to University.

Kathleen Faust
Masters Coach
Kathleen Faust is an avid competitive sculler and certified level 2 rowing coach. Her coaching experience in the San Francisco Bay Area includes coaching for NorCal Crew – Novice Men, Bair Island Aquatic Center – Learn to Row, Masters, and Para Athletes, and Palo Alto Rowing – Juniors.
A life-long teacher, she loves to help people of all ages build their fitness and find the same life-long love of an active and healthy lifestyle. Growth Mindset, technical analysis and the joy of working out drive her coaching style. Each athlete is unique and Coach Kathleen strives to meet the individual where they are and help them achieve their rowing goals. She thrives in the PNW outdoors – rowing, hiking, biking, surfskiing, and ocean kayaking. Her life has always been centered on water sports including sailing and wind-surfing. Her hobbies include cooking, knitting, reading, and taking care of her fluffy canine companion, Toby!
Kathleen graduated from Duquesne University and Carnegie Mellon with degrees in Flute Performance. She began her professional life as an orchestral flutist, playing with orchestras on the east coast as well as touring the US and Europe with the American Wind Symphony. She raised 4 children, taught elementary music to 1000 children per week for 6 years, was a Pastoral Associate for the Catholic Church, and taught second grade before retiring and moving to Washington State.

Grace Himango
Juniors Coach
Coming soon….