The Academy of Art Urban Knights are the 13 varsity athletic teams that represent Academy of Art University, located in San Francisco, California, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Urban Knights compete as members of the Pacific West Conference.
| Academy of Art Urban Knights | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Academy of Art University |
| Conference | PacWest |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Brad Jones |
| Location | San Francisco, California |
| First season | 2006 |
| Varsity teams | 13 (5 men's, 8 women's) |
| Basketball arena | Kezar Pavilion |
| Softball stadium | Mission Blue Field |
| Soccer field | Paul Goode Field CCSF Field |
| Tennis venue | Bay Club Tennis San Francisco |
| Nickname | Urban Knights |
| Colors | Red and black[1] |
| Website | artuathletics |
| Team NCAA championships | |
| 2 | |
| Individual and relay NCAA champions | |
| 29[2] | |
History
editThe university's athletic department was established in 2006 with the hiring of Jamie Williams as Athletic Director.[3] In July 2009, Academy of Art began the three-year transition process to become a member of the NCAA. At that time, they joined the Pacific West Conference in Division II. This process was completed successfully with the Urban Knights being granted full membership privileges by the NCAA in July 2012.[4]
In the 2014–2015 season, the men's cross country team had a second-place finish and the women's team had a record fourth-place finish, earned at the Pacific West Conference Championships. Valentin Pepiot, their third NCAA Nationals individual qualifier, was one of the top finishers from the PacWest in the postseason finale.[5] Academy of Art earned a record 10 PacWest postseason honors.
For the 2015 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, they had seven All-American honors and one NCAA individual champion in Jordan Edwards.[5]
The men's basketball team earned their first victory against a Division I team on November 28, 2021 when they beat the UC Davis Aggies 79–60.[6]
Notable people
editA number of Academy of Art's athletes and staff have participated in professional sports and in the Olympic Games. They include:
- Brandon Poulson – played 2 seasons after being signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2010[7]
- Mobolade Ajomale – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 4 × 100 m relay[8]
- Lindsey Yamasaki – school's first women's basketball coach played 2 seasons in the WNBA[9]
- Jamie Williams – school's first athletic director played 12 seasons as a tight end in the NFL
Varsity sports
editThe Urban Knights also fielded a baseball program from 2009 to 2023.[10]
National championships
edit| Association | Division | Sport | Team/Individual | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA | Division II | Women's outdoor track & field | Team | 2013[13] |
| NCAA | Division II | Women's indoor track & field | Team | 2013[14] |
| NCAA | Division II | Men's long jump & triple jump | Johnny Carter | 2013[15][16] |
| NCAA | Division II | 400m Outdoors | Jordan Edwards | 2014[17] |
| NCAA | Division II | 400m Outdoors | Jordan Edwards | 2015[17] |
| NCAA | Division II | 400m Indoors | Jordan Edwards | 2016[17] |
| NCAA | Division II | Women's golf | Anahi Servin | 2022[18] |
References
edit- ^ Pacific West Conference Visual Identity Standards (PDF). Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ "National Individual Champions". Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Jamie Williams: Former 49er at Academy of Art". SFGate. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "NCAA Grants Academy of Art University Full Certification in Division II Athletics". www.artuathletics.com. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ a b Garcia, Rob. "ART U Track & Field Announces New Coaching Staff". The PacWest. Retrieved May 22, 2016.
- ^ @rodger (November 29, 2021). "college basketball upset of the young season: UC-Davis loses to the Academy of Art University Urban Knights, a Divi…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Tom Powers: Twins pluck former Prune Packer with golden arm – Twin Cities". Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "Bolade Ajomale". Official Canadian Olympic Team Website | Team Canada | 2016 Olympic Games. July 11, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ Flynn, Josh (December 28, 2010). "Ready to Win". Slam. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "Baseball - Academy of Art University Athletics". Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "Academy of Art Women's Basketball Adds Freshman Trio with Star Returnee". BVM Sports. June 17, 2024.
- ^ "Academy of Art University - Official Athletics Site". www.artuathletics.com. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ Crumpacker, John (May 25, 2013). "Academy of Art, Thomas win track titles". SFGate. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ Gackle, Paul (May 19, 2013). "Academy of Art is molding a track power". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "Academy of Art earns first national championship in first time competing". NCAA. October 23, 2013. Archived from the original on January 8, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ Ewing, Zach (March 8, 2013). "Ridgeview grad Johnny Carter wins D-II national long jump title". Bakersfield.com. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Jordan Edwards". TFRRS. 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
- ^ "Victorious Ending For National Champion Anahi Servin". BVM Sports.
