Laura Harmon, whose coaching resume includes 12 seasons of leadership at the collegiate level, has been named the University of Minnesota Duluth's head men's & women's cross country and track and field coach. Harmon has overseen the UMD women's cross country and track and field programs for the last three seasons.
"I'm both excited and honored for the opportunity to lead our history rich men's and women's cross country and track and field programs," said Harmon. "Taking over both programs is an incredible opportunity for me in my career as well as for our programs. I know my coaching experience has prepared me to take on this role and continue the excellence in the classroom, community and in competition in the NSIC."
"Thank you to (UMD Athletic Director) Josh Berlo, (Sr. Associate Athletic Director & Senior Woman Administrator) Karen Stromme and (UMD Associate Athletic Director and Sport Administrator for Cross Country, Track & Field) Jay Finnerty, for this chance to lead this outstanding group of student-athletes."
With the promotion becoming official earlier this week, Harmon formally steps into the role as one of two women to lead men's cross country or men's track and field programs in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. In many ways this harkens back to the early days of the Bulldog Country Track & Field programs when legendary coach Eleanor Rynda led both the men's and women's programs, one of the first women in college athletics to do so. Coach Harmon's time as interim head coach of the UMD men's track and field program has proven her ability to lead both UMD teams into the future.
"Since her arrival in Duluth, Laura Harmon has had a significant impact on UMD Athletics," said Athletic Director Josh Berlo. "When the need for someone to lead the men's programs arose, it quickly became clear that the best person was already a Bulldog. Coach Harmon's experience as a student-athlete at the University of Oregon, coaching experience at multiple NCAA institutions, and success to date made that clear. In her relatively short time at UMD, Coach Harmon has established herself as a strong leader and role model for the young women in her program, and now the men's teams will benefit from her expertise, mentorship, and leadership. We are proud to have her lead the men's and women's cross country, track and field programs for UMD."
Laura Harmon began her third season as a member of the UMD coaching staff this last fall. UMD placed fifth at the 2019 NSIC Cross Country Championships and had four individuals go on to earn United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division II All-Academic Team citations.
This past winter, women's track and field student-athlete Haleigh Reindl qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship (for the second consecutive year) in the 800-meter run. She finished second in that event at the NSIC indoors en route to finishing 6th overall and attaining All-American status.
During her debut season with the track Bulldogs, Harmon saw one of her pupils, senior hurdler Danielle Kohlwey, become the program's fourth NCAA Division II Indoor National Champion while attaining All-American status three times overall (indoor 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash and outdoor 100-meter hurdles). Harmon also oversaw the hosting of the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth and will do so again this weekend.
Harmon, whose coaching resume included nine previous seasons of service at the collegiate level, had served as the head women's cross country and track and field coach at Sierra College, a two-year institution in Rocklin, Calif. She helped resurrect those two programs in 2016 after a seven-year hiatus and since that time directed the Wolverines to a pair of berths in the California State Junior College Championships. Prior to joining the Sierra College staff, Harmon was employed at a trio of NCAA Division I schools -- Sacramento State University (head men's and women's cross country and assistant track and field coach; 2015-16), Texas Christian University (head men's and women's cross country and assistant track and field coach; 2014-15) and Oregon State University (assistant women's cross country and track and field coach; 2011-2014). Sacramento State claimed a Big Sky Indoor Track and Field championship during her tenure.
Harmon, a native of Vancouver, Wash., enjoyed a rewarding four-year running career at the University of Oregon. As a senior in 2004, she qualified for her second NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship and attained All-American status. Harmon, who was a two-year Duck team captain, also took part in a pair of NCAA Division I national track and field meets in the 5,000-meter run and was a four-time NCAA regional qualifier in the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs.
After graduating from Oregon in 2005 with a B.S. degree in psychology, Harmon returned to her alma mater -- Jesuit High School in Beaverton, Ore. -- to enter the coaching arena. As the assistant girl's cross country and track and field coach from August 2005 to June 2009, she was part of four Oregon State 6A cross country title-winning teams. Harmon also coached three Crusaders to Oregon 6A individual state track and field crowns.
Harmon, who received a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University in 2018, and her husband, Taylor, have one daughter (Quinn) and reside in Duluth.
