Kevin LaSure was named Academy of Art University director of track & field/cross country in July 2018 after three years as the program's track & field head coach since August 2015.
Authoring impressive efforts throughout their indoor and outdoor journeys, the Academy of Art track & field team delivered 38 All-American honors, Pacific West Conference titles in 12 different events, two top 15 team finishes at Outdoor Nationals, and a NCAA Division II National Championship for Shareez Hamm in the
outdoor 400m hurdles in 2023-24. The Urban Knights marked their respective indoor and outdoor campaigns by producing a total of 12 new school records (four indoor, eight outdoor) along the way. Strong results for the ART U men's team led LaSure to be named
2024 USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year.
With half of its total roster debuting this fall campaign, Academy of Art men's and women's cross country took important steps forward in 2023. Multiple Pacific West Conference Runner of the Week honors highlighted the Urban Knights' journey toward the postseason where both teams finished among the top seven at the PacWest Championships and two standouts, Katharina Goetschl and Grace Southern, went on to become All-West Region Team honorees.
Delivering impressive performances throughout its indoor and outdoor campaigns, the 2022-23 Academy of Art track & field season, LaSure and his coaching staff's eighth leading the way, was highlighted by 34 All-American honors, Pacific West Conference titles in 11 different events, a fourth-place finish for the men at Indoor Nationals, and Marie-Jeanne Ourega capturing two NCAA Division II Long Jump National Championships. The Urban Knights navigated their respective indoor and outdoor schedules while producing a total of 11 new school records (four indoor, seven outdoor) along the way. Top 10 results for the men's team at both Indoor and Outdoor Nationals led LaSure to be named both
2023 USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year and
USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Men's Coach of the Year.
Each step of the 2022 Academy of Art men's and women's cross country season built more confidence as the Urban Knights steadily progressed through four meets comprised of strong opponents toward the postseason. Top-six performances by both teams at the Pacific West Conference Championships then gave way to more important experience at NCAA Division II West Regionals for two contingents of younger ART U squads poised to write the programs' respective next chapters.
Featuring impressive performances throughout full indoor and outdoor schedules, the 2022 Academy of Art University track & field season, LaSure and his coaching staff's seventh at the helm, was highlighted by two individual NCAA National Champions (Marie-Jeanne Ourega in the
outdoor long jump and Mathieu Tshani in the
outdoor triple jump), 32 All-American trophies, and Pacific West Conference titles in nine different events. The Urban Knights marked their respective indoor and outdoor campaigns with a total of 17 new school records (six indoor, 11 outdoor) along the way. Culminating with the first time in program history that both the men and women finished in the top 10 at Outdoor Nationals, the campaign included LaSure being named both
2022 USTFCCCA West Region Outdoor Women's Coach of the Year and
2022 USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year.
In 2021, the first Academy of Art cross country season in two years was a truly memorable one as the Urban Knights positively progressed to several historic achievements in October and November. The women's team achieved its first
Pacific West Conference title, they joined the men in collecting
All-Region honors two weeks later, and emerging from the women's first NCAA Division II Nationals appearance was the second
All-American in program history in
2021 PacWest Runner of the Year Natalia Novak.
Delivering some incredible performances amid a limited schedule and other challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 Academy of Art track & field season, the sixth under LaSure and his coaching staff, 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 LaSure being named both
2020-21 USTFCCCA West Region Indoor Men's & Women's Head 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 fifth season guided by director of track & field/cross country Kevin LaSure and his coaching staff.
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 (including two more for eventual
ART U Athletics Hall of Famer Mobolade Ajomale), 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. LaSure's campaign included him being named
2019 USTFCCCA Indoor West Region Men's Coach of the Year.
Breaking out with one of its strongest collective campaigns to date, the 2018 Academy of Art University track & field season featured the
largest number of qualifiers for NCAA Indoor Nationals,
10 PacWest champions, five individual national titles (four for
PacWest Male Athlete of the Year and
Division II National Track Athlete of the Year Mobolade Ajomale), and 21 All-America selections. The Urban Knights highlighted their respective indoor and outdoor campaigns with a total of 20 new school records (12 indoor, eight outdoor) along the way. On the men's side specifically, the team finished eighth at Indoor Nationals and seventh at Outdoor Nationals. LaSure's campaign included him being named
2018 PacWest Men's Coach of the Year.
Moving into the Urban Knights' 2017 track & field campaign, LaSure along with director of track & field/cross country Torrey Olson and their coaching staff saw their teams combine to set a total of 19 new school records (eight indoor, 11 outdoor). Highlights included three NCAA National Championships and
USTFCCCA DII Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for Mobolade Ajomale (indoor 60m, 200m, and outdoor 100m), 13 total All-Americans across both seasons, and the teams' top three finishes at the
PacWest Championships. On the men's side specifically, the team finished fifth at Indoor Nationals and 19th at Outdoor Nationals. LaSure's campaign included him being named
2017 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Women's Head Coach of the Year.
In 2016, LaSure collaborated with Olson and their coaching staff to produce the two highest men's team finishes to date (third indoor, fourth outdoor) and 21 new school records (six indoor, 15 outdoor). LaSure's campaign included him being named
2016 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Track & Field Head Coach of the Year.
Spending his previous eight years at the University of New Haven, LaSure served his first four seasons as the head coach for both the men and women's programs. As a head coach, LaSure mentored 52 NCAA National qualifiers, 45 NCAA All-Americans, and five Individual National Champions. Additionally, the Chargers set more than 50 school records in the sprints, jumps, hurdles, mid-distance, and relays under LaSure's tenure.
In just his second season at UNH, LaSure coached arguably the most successful student-athlete in the history of Charger athletics. Shannon Gagne won five NCAA Division II Individual National Championships during the year, three during the indoor season and two at the outdoor championships. She was the first student-athlete in NCAA track and field history to win three national championships at one meet across both track and field events when she won the 200m dash, 400m dash and long jump at the 2011 Indoor National Championships. Gagne was named the Division II National Track Athlete of the Year after the indoor and outdoor season, while being named Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for the College Division, an award which encompassed all NCAA sports.
During his UNH tenure, LaSure also mentored 2012 graduate David Thomas to All-America honors in the long jump in both the indoor and outdoor track seasons. Thomas was the USTFCCCA East Region Track Athlete of the Year in the indoor season and claimed NE-10 Championship Most Valuable Athlete honors during both seasons. Overall throughout the 2012-13 year, Thomas was a five-time conference champion, five-time All-New England performer, and eight-time USTFCCCA All-East Region recipient.
A 2004 graduate of University of New Haven with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice - Investigative Services, LaSure also completed a Master's degree in Labor Relations at UNH in 2006. As an undergraduate, Kevin was a wide receiver on UNH's football team from 2000-2003 and ran on the Charger track & field team from 2001-2005. He won the track team's Sportsmanship Award in both 2004 and 2005, and was an All-New England performer in the 200m and 400m dashes as well as on the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams.
Coaching Honors at Academy of Art
2024 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year
2023 USTFCCCA DII West Region Outdoor Men's Coach of the Year
2023 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year
2022 USTFCCCA DII West Region Outdoor Women's Coach of the Year
2022 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Coach of the Year
2020-21 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's & Women's Head Coach of the Year
2019 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year
2018 PacWest Men's Track & Field Coach of the Year
2017 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Women's Track & Field Head Coach of the Year
2016 USTFCCCA DII West Region Indoor Men's Track & Field Head Coach of the Year
