Laurier Primeau became the head coach of UBC cross country and track and field on May 27, 2015 and is in his second season. In his first campaign, the Thunderbirds women finished second and the men fifth at the 2015 NAIA Cross Country Championships in Charlotte, N.C.
From 2011 to 2015, Primeau worked to build Trinity Western's cross country and track and field programs into national powerhouses within CIS competition.
In four years, TWU women's cross country progressed from an 18th-place standing at the CIS meet to a spot on the podium, while in track, the Spartan women went from 15th to second. On the men's side, Primeau's cross country teams have improved every year, going from 16th to seventh in four seasons. On the track, that rise has been from 15th place at the CIS meet to seventh.
In recognition of his efforts, the Canada West conference has honoured Primeau with its Coach of the Year award in women's cross country and track and field for two consecutive seasons.
Primeau took time off from the Spartans in the summer of 2012 to fill the role as head coach of Canada's Paralympic Team at the Summer Olympics in London.
Before TWU, he was the head coach of Scottish Athletics for two years – from 2009 to 2011 – where he guided his team to an 18th place finish at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Between 2002 and 2013, Primeau was a coach with Canada's national track and field team, responsible for jumps, combined events and relays. He helped lead Canada at two World Junior Championships and three Pan American Junior Championships.
Primeau is no stranger to the UBC family. He competed as a Thunderbird in 2000, winning a bronze medal in the 60-metre hurdles at the Canada West championships in Winnipeg. He teamed with Alex Inglis, Steve Walters and Chris Williams to win silver in the 4x400-metre relay at both the Canada West and CIS meets.
From 2002 to 2009, Primeau served as an assistant coach with UBC track and field in charge of sprints, hurdles, combined events, jumps and javelin. During this time period, he worked with some of the Thunderbirds' most recent Olympians: javelin throwers Liz Gleadle and Curtis Moss and high jumper Mike Mason.
During the same span, Primeau was the head coach and administrator of the Vancouver Thunderbirds Track and Field Club.
He also served as teacher and head coach at St. George's School from 1997 to 2009.
In 2007 he was the recipient of the Outstanding Coach Award for BC Athletics and, in 1991, he was awarded Sport BC's "Harry Jerome Comeback Athlete of the Year" after returning to the competitive track after a battle with cancer.
Primeau has full NCCP Level 4 certification and also has a UKA Level 2 coaching licence.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree (1995) from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. In 1997, Primeau graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University in Auburn, Ala.
