In one or more embodiments, an optical fiber coupler for coupling pump radiation into a rectangular optical fiber includes a fiber section and a pump fiber. The fiber section includes a core having a high aspect ratio cross-section and an interface section. The core is positioned in contact with first and second signal claddings to form reflective boundaries at fast-axis boundaries of the core. The pump fiber is side coupled to the fiber section via the interface section, and configured to couple the pump radiation into the fiber section.