Steve Fuelling began as cross country head coach and track & field assistant coach with Academy of Art University track & field/cross country in August 2018.
Delivering some incredible performances amid a limited schedule and other challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Academy of Art track & field season triumphantly featured three individual NCAA Division II National Champions (Marie-Jeanne Ourega in the
outdoor long jump and James Young in the
indoor mile and
outdoor 1500m), 22 All-American trophies, Pacific West Conference titles in 13 different events, and a total of nine new school records (three indoor, six outdoor) along the way. The campaign included Fuelling being named
2020-21 USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
A roster of fresh talent mixed with the postseason experience of many returners as the Academy of Art track & field squad penned its 2020 chapter. The entry could not be fully completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a total of
seven All-Americans,
26 All-Region honors, and six new school records still highlighted the program's abbreviated season. Fuelling would be named
2020 USTFCCCA Men's Indoor Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year.
Each improving on postseason performances from the year prior, the 2019 Academy of Art men's and women's cross country seasons brought the
PacWest Runner of the Year and
individual conference champion Hasna Kaarour on the women's side,
seven All-PacWest Team honors plus the
PacWest Newcomer of the Year James Young, and the program's third woman at
NCAA Division II Nationals all in head coach Steve Fuelling's second year at the helm.
Making strides toward two more strong finishes at the PacWest Championships and NCAA West Regionals, the 2018 Academy of Art University men's and women's cross country seasons were highlighted by three first-place finishes, six
All-PacWest Team honors, and one
All-West Region honoree in Hasna Kaarour.
As the baton passed metaphorically and literally from several stellar veterans to many young talents, the 2019 Academy of Art University track & field season featured large contingents at both NCAA
Indoor and
Outdoor Nationals, nine
PacWest champions, three individual NCAA National Champions, and 24 All-America selections. The Urban Knights highlighted their respective indoor and outdoor campaigns with a total of 19 new school records (seven indoor, 12 outdoor) along the way. In terms of team finishes, the men took fifth and the women were
19th at Indoor Nationals then the men were ninth at Outdoor Nationals.
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.
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.
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.
