Karsten Whitson joined the FIU Panthers ahead of the 2024 season after four seasons as an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.
Whitson concluded his second season in 2025 by guiding the pitching staff to its lowest team ERA since 2019. FIU recorded 533 strikeouts, the most in Conference USA and the fourth-highest total in program history, as well as the program’s highest single-season mark since 2004. The Panthers also matched the program’s single-game strikeout record with 20 strikeouts against Delaware on February 23, 2025.
He coached right-hander Easton Marks to a CUSA All-Conference First Team selection, as Marks posted a 3.49 ERA with 72 strikeouts, becoming the first FIU pitcher to earn First Team honors since 2019. Marks and righty Owen Puk went on to be selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, becoming the first time since 2019 a pair of Panthers were selected. Additionally, two-way freshman Andrew Ildefonso earned a spot on the CUSA All-Freshman Team after compiling a 4.26 ERA.
In his first season in 2024 as the Panthers’ pitching coach, the staff again posted the program’s lowest ERA since 2019. Orlando Hernandez earned CUSA All-Conference Second Team honors after recording a 1.57 ERA, becoming FIU’s first All-Conference pitcher since 2019. Ryan Cabarcas was named to the NCBWA Midseason Stopper of the Year Watch List, becoming the first Panther selected since 2012.
Prior to FIU, Whitson spent four seasons at the University of South Florida, where his pitching staffs were a key part of one of the most successful stretches in program history. In 2021, his staff helped lead the Bulls to the program’s first-ever NCAA Super Regional appearance, posting a 3.23 team ERA in American Athletic Conference play. During the 2021 Gainesville Regional, USF pitchers struck out 34 batters in 36 innings against Florida, Miami, and South Alabama.
In his first season with the Bulls, Whitson led USF pitchers to 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings, ranking first in the American Athletic Conference and 11th nationally.
During his tenure at the University of South Florida, Whitson coached three pitchers who reached the Major Leagues: Orion Kerkering (Philadelphia Phillies), Carson Ragsdale (Baltimore Orioles), and Brad Lord (Washington Nationals).
Before USF, Whitson spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Pensacola State College, where he coached two MLB Draft selections—Chad Bryant (Atlanta Braves) and Jake Sweeney (Pittsburgh Pirates)—in the 2019 MLB Draft, and one season as the pitching coach for the USA Baseball U-18 National Development Program.
In 2017, Whitson served as the pitching coach for the Bismarck Larks of the Northwoods League, earning an Assistant Coach of the Year nominee distinction and helping develop future Major League pitchers Jeff Lindgren (Miami Marlins) and Chris Roycroft (St. Louis Cardinals).
Over the course of his coaching career, Whitson has coached 15 pitchers selected in the MLB Draft, with 5 having already advanced to the Major Leagues.
A Chipley, Florida native, Whitson had a stellar collegiate career at the University of Florida, helping the Gators win two SEC Championships and reach the College World Series twice. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, Perfect Game Freshman Pitcher of the Year, and earned two All-American honors.
Whitson was selected 9th overall in the 2010 MLB Draft and represented USA Baseball on the U-18 National Team that won a gold medal in Venezuela in 2009. He has also served as an associate scout for the Minnesota Twins.
