How UBC Built a Track & Field Dynasty | Laurier Primeau on 5 Straight NAIA National Championships, Olympians & Canadian Recruiting | Ep. 464

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:🏆 Winning five consecutive NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field National Championships🇨🇦 How Canadian collegiate athletics differs from the United States🏃 Recruiting at one of the world's top academic universities🎓 Why UBC attracts elite student-athletes from across Canada🔥 Building championship culture through development instead of pressure🥇 Coaching Olympians, Paralympians, and National Team athletes📈 The future of UBC Track & Field and Cross Country🏔️ Competing in both U SPORTS and the NAIAWhether 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 Notes00:00 Introduction to Airey Bros Radio and why the show highlights collegiate track & field, cross country and wrestling04:05 Official introduction of Coach Laurier Primeau05:17 Five consecutive NAIA National Championships and Coach of the Year honors06:35 Coach Primeau's introduction to track & field as a child09:30 Losing an influential mentor and discovering a passion for coaching11:10 Coaching while competing at Simon Fraser University13:20 Auburn University, competing with elite athletes and becoming a teacher15:00 From high school coaching to leading Scotland's National Team17:00 Lessons learned coaching Olympians and world-class athletes19:25 How UBC competes in both U SPORTS and the NAIA23:40 Which UBC sports compete in the NAIA and why25:20 Recruiting Canadian student-athletes to UBC28:20 Why American athletes choose UBC29:55 UBC academics, engineering, business and balancing elite athletics32:30 Student population and life at one of Canada's largest universities33:55 The formula behind five consecutive national championships35:40 Managing rain delays and adversity at the NAIA Championships36:45 The plus/minus system that measures athlete development instead of medals38:30 Building a culture focused on long-term development over pressure40:10 Why this championship team was different from previous title teams42:10 The future of UBC men's track & field44:50 Redshirts, injuries and preparing for another championship run46:45 Thoughts on the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Asheville49:25 Summer training, recruiting and Canadian National Championships52:00 Coaching responsibilities that continue all summer3:00 Why UBC skips the indoor track season55:40 Steeplechase coaching and hurdling philosophy58:50 Why UBC is one of Canada's best universities for student-athletes1:02:00 Final Four Questions1:02:10 Coffee preferences1:03:00 Daily habits and fitness routine1:05:20 Music playlists and recommended books1:06:55 Favorite foods, travel and Vancouver culture1:09:00 Final thoughts and closing remarks