Karl Kitt began his wrestling career in Oklahoma and finished in Colorado.

Kitt graduated from Tulsa Central High School in 1932, where he was coached by Art Griffith.

He, then went on to wrestle in college at Southwestern State Teachers College where he attained All-American status.

Kitt began his coaching career at Cleveland High School before moving to Tulsa Webster High School.

He began his college coaching career in 1943 at the U.S. Naval Academy before moving to the newly formed United States Air Force Academy in 1957.

He retired from coaching in 1975 with an overall dual meet record of 210-97-4.

During his college coaching tenure, Kitt elevated the sport of wrestling in many ways. Besides starting the wrestling program at the Air Force Academy, he was instrumental in starting the Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (MIWA). He also helped establish the NCAA All-American awards and served on the NCAA Wrestling Rules committee as well as the US Olympic Wrestling Committee.

During his career, Kitt was president of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and was a founding member of the United States Wrestling Federation, now USA Wrestling.

Kitt authored a wrestling article for the World Book Encyclopedia and had articles published in several wrestling publications.

He received the Air Force Citation and was inducted into the Southwestern State College Hall of Fame.