The Academy of Art Urban Knights were the 13 varsity athletic teams that represented 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.
The Academy discontinued its athletics program in April 2025.Academy of Art University Announces Discontinuation of Intercollegiate Sports Programs on artuathletics.com. 4 Apr 2025
History The university's athletic department was established in 2006 with the hiring of Jamie Williams as Athletic Director. 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.
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. 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.
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.
In April 2024, the Academy announced its athletics program would be discontinued at the conclusion of the 2024–25 academic year.
Varsity sports The Urban Knights also fielded a baseball program from 2009 to 2023.
Men's sports Women's sports Basketball Basketball Cross country Cross country Golf Golf Soccer Soccer Track & field Softball Tennis Track and field Volleyball
Notable people A 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 Mobolade Ajomale – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 4 × 100 m relay Lindsey Yamasaki – school's first women's basketball coach played 2 seasons in the WNBA Jamie Williams – school's first athletic director played 12 seasons as a tight end in the NFL
National championships Association Division Sport Team / Individual Year NCAA Division II Women's outdoor track & field Team 2013 NCAA Division II Women's indoor track & field Team 2013 NCAA Division II Men's long jump & triple jump Johnny Carter 2013 NCAA Division II 400m Outdoors Jordan Edwards 2014 NCAA Division II 400m Outdoors Jordan Edwards 2015 NCAA Division II 400m Indoors Jordan Edwards 2016 NCAA Division II Women's golf Anahi Servin 2022
References
External links