Karl is a Senior Lecturer within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Karl joined the University as a full-time member of staff in September 2008 having previously worked as a National Coach for British Gymnastics. Karl is Head of Subject for Sport Development, Sport Management and Sport Coaching.

Prior to entering a career in full-time coaching and higher education Karl was a Teacher of Physical Education for 15 years and held a position as a Head of Department for a twelve-year period.

Karl Wharton is a highly experienced coach and coach educator and was involved with British Gymnastics for over thirty years as a National coach, tutor, tutor trainer, technical writer for the UK Coaching Certificate Level 1 to 5 and a member of several strategy groups including the Sport England 2012 High Performance Group. Karl's involvement in the strategic development of sport and coaching contributed to his appointment onto the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) Coaching Academy as a World Expert in coaching pedagogy which aims to raise standards of gymnastics coaching and support across the world. Karl was a member of this group from 2005 – 2019 and his involvement in the development of the technical content and curriculum of the academy programme was instrumental, with his work forming the basis of the three levels of technical manuals and technical lectures that the FIG delivers across the globe.

This is not the first time Karl’s outstanding service to coaching has been recognised both regionally and internationally. He received an MBE for his leading work in coaching in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2016.

Karl coached at International level with the British Gymnastics and produced more than one hundred international gymnasts, including World and European medallists with six World and seven European Champions. Karl has also had the role of a commentator for Eurosport.  Consequently, Karl brings a wealth of experience into his role from both the coaching, education, and the sports sector.

Karl has served as a consultant to the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), British Gymnastics, English Gymnastics, Scottish Gymnastics, the English Institute of Sport and the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport. Karl has delivered presentations at four International Coaching Academies and these included presentations with some of the leading academics in coaching theory. In 2000, Karl was appointed by Sport England and British Gymnastics to lead and develop one of the World Class Start talent identification programmes which are now producing international performers for Great Britain.