Nick Larson is the assistant men’s and women’s cross country and distance track and field coach at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, a position he has held since the start of the 2018-19 academic school year.
Prior to his arrival at Saint Mary’s, Larson was a volunteer assistant cross country and track & field coach for the women's team at the University of Minnesota. He assisted with all running events, including distance, sprints, hurdles, and relays. In his three years at the University of Minnesota, the Gophers won three B1G Ten Championships (2016 - Outdoor TF; 2018 - Indoor and Outdoor TF). The Gophers also finished in the top four in all nine B1G Ten Championships (CC and T&F) during Larson’s three years with the program. In addition, the Gophers finished in the top 20 at the NCAA Cross County Championships in both 2015 and 2017. Larson assisted in coaching four B1G Ten champions in track & field, and more than 60 B1G Ten scorers and over 20 NCAA national qualifiers. In addition, the Gophers set 14 school records on the track during his three years at Minnesota.
Larson coached girls’ track & field and cross country programs at Shakopee (Minn.) High School from 2011 to 2015. As the girls’ track & field head coach, Larson coached 17 state championship qualifiers—with four state champions—and 15 academic all-state honorees from 2012-2015. Larson was named the MSHSL Section 2AA Girls Track & Field Coach of the Year in 2015, after winning the Section 2AA team title. Larson spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Shakopee girls’ cross country, before taking over as head coach in 2013 and 2014. Larson’s cross country teams teams had one individual state championship qualifier each season, and earned two top-four finishes at the MSHSL Section 2AA Championships.
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 the 2011 season. Larson-led teams won the 2009 Mississippi Valley Conference Championship, and he was voted the MVC Girls’ Coach of the Year. Larson 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 time at Onalaska.
Larson also served as an assistant cross country coach at Onalaska (Wis.) High School from 2004 through 2010. The girls’ team secured three top-six finishes at the WIAA State Cross Country Championship during his time as an assistant coach. Larson also assisted in coaching eight individual WIAA state qualifiers and three Mississippi Valley Conference championship teams.
Larson earned his Bachelors of Science in education and history from the UW-La Crosse in 2008 and his Masters of Education in Teaching & Learning from Saint Mary’s University in 2014. Larson, who spent seven years as a social studies teacher in Shakopee, Minn., is USATF Level I and USTFCCCA Technical Coaching certified.
