Laura Harmon, who has served as the University of Minnesota Duluth men's and women's cross country and track and field head coach, has resigned from that position for personal reasons.
"It has been an honor to be the head coach of the Bulldog men's and women's cross country and track and field programs," said Harmon. "This decision is filled with very mixed emotions because I care so deeply about each and every student-athlete and this program. However, at this time, I need to focus on being closer to my family back home but will be keeping tabs on the team this year and into the future. I want to thank UMD Athletic Director
Josh Berlo for providing me with this opportunity and for his tremendous support of our track programs. I will always be proud to have led this program, been a part of this athletic department and the UMD campus community."
Harmon, whose coaching resume includes 12 seasons of leadership at the collegiate level, recently had been named the University of Minnesota Duluth's head men's & women's cross country and track and field coach. Harmon had overseen the UMD women's cross country and track and field programs since 2018.
"Bulldog Athletics is very appreciative of the leadership and accomplishments from Coach Harmon," said UMD Athletic Director
Josh Berlo. "She successfully led the programs to competitive and academic excellence while also hosting two NSIC Outdoor Conference Championships. She has built a strong culture and framework for future success. We have been proud to call Laura a Bulldog, we wish her well back in the Pacific Northwest."
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 under Harmon.
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 7th 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 twice.
Harmon, who received a Master's Degree in Kinesiology from Fresno Pacific University in 2018, and her husband, Taylor, have one daughter (Quinn).
A search for Harmon's replacement will begin immediately.
