University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Cross Country
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Nick Larson completed his third season as a volunteer assistant coach with the Gopher women's cross country team in 2017. Larson came to Minnesota for the 2015 season with over 10 years of coaching experience and helped coach the team to the program's highest NCAA Championship finish since 2009 with an 18th-place finish in 2015.
Larson coached cross country and track & field at Onalaska (Wis.) High School from 2004 to 2011. After spending two seasons as an assistant coach working with the sprinters, Larson became the girls track & field head coach in 2006 and held the position through 2011. The 2009 Mississippi Valley Conference Coach of the Year, Larson coached the Hilltoppers to the 2009 Mississippi Valley Conference title. He coached 30 WIAA state championship qualifiers, nine all-state student-athletes, and three state champions on the track. His student-athletes also broke 15 school records during his coaching tenure as well.
Larson also served as an assistant coach for cross country at Onalaska High School from 2004 to 2010. The girls team secured three top-six finishes at the WIAA State Cross Country Championship under his direction. He also coached eight individual WIAA state qualifiers and three Mississippi Valley Conference champions teams.
Most recently, Larson coached girls track & field and cross country at Shakopee (Minn.) High School from 2011 to 2015. As the girls track & field head coach, Larson coached 17 state championship qualifiers and 15 academic all-state honorees from 2012-2015. His student-athletes broke 11 school records from 2012-2015 as well. Larson spent two seasons as an assistant coach for Shakopee girls cross country before serving as the head coach in 2013 and 2014. His teams had one individual state championship qualifier each season and earned two top-four finishes at the MSHSL Section 2AA Championships.
A native of Onalaska, Wis., Larson graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Educatioin/Social Studies and History in 2008. He completed his Master's degree in Teaching & Learning from St. Mary's University in 2014. In addition to his role with the Gophers, Larson is a full-time junior high social studies teacher in Shakopee, Minn.
Larson is a USATF Level I Certified Coach and has completed his USTFCCCA Track & Field Technical Coaching Certification.
