SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University director of athletics Brad Jones and director of track & field/cross country Kevin LaSure has officially announced the hiring of Steve Fuelling as the Urban Knights' new head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach. Fuelling brings more than five years of experience coaching success at various NCAA Division I programs including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Temple, and most recently Boise State.

"We're excited to welcome Steve to our staff," said Jones. "We are confident in him and we're looking forward to the upcoming season with him leading our cross country teams."

At Boise State, Fuelling assisted in the best finish in the history of the women's program (sixth place). Boise State men's cross country team won its first Mountain West title and placed in the top 20 at the 2016 & 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

During the track & field season, the Bronco women won the distance medley relay at the 2017 Mountain West Indoor Championship and Fuelling later assisted Allie Ostrander to a national title in the 3000m steeplechase as well as an All-American finish in the 5000m at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Ostrander went on to be named the Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year and won the steeplechase title once again the following year.

"We are thrilled to have Steve joining the program," said LaSure. "He brings a lot of knowledge and experience from some of the best distance programs in the country."

After joining the Temple cross country and track & field staff in August 2014, Fuelling assisted the men's cross country squad to its first regional ranking since 2012. The women's team featured cross country AAC champion, Mid-Atlantic regional champion, and NCAA All-American Blanca Fernandez who went on to capture All-American honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons while setting school records in the 800m, 1500m, Mile, and 3000m.

A volunteer assistant coach for the men's cross country and track & field at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana before Temple, Fuelling helped the Fighting Illini to their first national cross country ranking in over 15 years.

Prior to earning a master's degree in Athletic Leadership from Boise State in 2018, Fuelling graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education in 2013. At GVSU, he was a member of the cross country and track & field teams where he was a two-time All-American and a 10000m and 5000m NCAA finals qualifier. Fuelling also helped the team earn two third-place finishes and a seventh-place finish at the Division II NCAA Championships, scoring points for the team each year.

"I want to thank Brad Jones as well as Kevin LaSure for providing me with this opportunity of head cross country/assistant track & field coach," said Fuelling. "I'm grateful to return to Division II and to join such a motivated and driven staff. I can't wait to begin coaching and working with this group of talented student-athletes."