Coach Laurier Primeau joins Airey Bros Radio after leading the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to their fifth consecutive NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championship while earning 2026 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year honors.
Coach Primeau has built one of the premier collegiate track & field programs in North America, developing NAIA National Champions, Olympians, Paralympians, All-Americans, Academic standouts, and Canadian National Team athletes while creating a culture focused on long-term athlete development.
In this episode we discuss:
π Winning five consecutive NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships
π¨π¦ How Canadian collegiate athletics differs from the United States
π Recruiting at one of the world's top academic universities
π Why UBC attracts elite student-athletes from across Canada
π₯ Building championship culture through development instead of pressure
π₯ Coaching Olympians, Paralympians, and National Team athletesπ The future of UBC Track & Field and Cross Country
ποΈ Competing in both U SPORTS and the NAIA
Whether you're a coach, athlete, recruit, parent, or fan of collegiate track & field and cross country, this conversation provides an inside look at one of the most successful programs in the NAIA.
Show Notes
00:00 Introduction to Airey Bros Radio and why the show highlights collegiate track & field, cross country and wrestling
04:05 Official introduction of Coach Laurier Primeau
05:17 Five consecutive NAIA National Championships and Coach of the Year honors
06:35 Coach Primeau's introduction to track & field as a child
09:30 Losing an influential mentor and discovering a passion for coaching
11:10 Coaching while competing at Simon Fraser University
13:20 Auburn University, competing with elite athletes and becoming a teacher
15:00 From high school coaching to leading Scotland's National Team
17:00 Lessons learned coaching Olympians and world-class athletes
19:25 How UBC competes in both U SPORTS and the NAIA
23:40 Which UBC sports compete in the NAIA and why
25:20 Recruiting Canadian student-athletes to UBC
28:20 Why American athletes choose UBC
29:55 UBC academics, engineering, business and balancing elite athletics
32:30 Student population and life at one of Canada's largest universities
33:55 The formula behind five consecutive national championships
35:40 Managing rain delays and adversity at the NAIA Championships
36:45 The plus/minus system that measures athlete development instead of medals
38:30 Building a culture focused on long-term development over pressure
40:10 Why this championship team was different from previous title teams
42:10 The future of UBC men's track & field
44:50 Redshirts, injuries and preparing for another championship run
46:45 Thoughts on the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Asheville
49:25 Summer training, recruiting and Canadian National Championships
52:00 Coaching responsibilities that continue all summer
3:00 Why UBC skips the indoor track season
55:40 Steeplechase coaching and hurdling philosophy
58:50 Why UBC is one of Canada's best universities for student-athletes
1:02:00 Final Four Questions1:02:10 Coffee preferences
1:03:00 Daily habits and fitness routine
1:05:20 Music playlists and recommended books
1:06:55 Favorite foods, travel and Vancouver culture
1:09:00 Final thoughts and closing remarks