Not Your Average Art School
Founded over 90 years ago and offering 129 degree programs, Academy of Art is one of the biggest private, accredited art and design schools in the nation. Sponsoring 15 athletic teams, we are the only NCAA Division II university in the country where you can be an artist and an athlete.
Real Life Experience
The university serves students from 112 countries around the world and has a student to faculty ratio of 14:1. It uniquely specializes in bringing together professionals to instruct courses through hands-on learning and students who use the skills they’ve acquired to excel in their chosen field of study.
Setting The Standard
Whether we're in the classroom or on the field we seek excellence. Nowhere is that more evident than in our drive to design and create. Academy of Art is the #1 Animation and Visual Arts Effects school in Northern California. Our alumni and faculty have been nominated for 96 Oscars, 65 Golden Globes, and 44 Emmys.
We compete against ourselves to be better than we were yesterday. Former Olympic medalists have donned the red and black. Urban Knights have won conference championships, national championships, made 70 NCAA appearances, and over 260 student-athletes have been named NCAA All-Americans.
Excellence ≥ Perfection
Individually and collectively, we concern ourselves with the quality of what we do. Competing in the PacWest conference is no exception. In 2023, 97 urban knights made Academic All-PacWest Teams. Conference teams were regionally and nationally ranked throughout 2023. Every year only six NCAA Division II soccer teams in each region qualify for the post season tournament. This past season, half of those teams were from our conference, more than at any other time in PacWest history.
Indomitable Aggregate
We know that we are stronger together because our strength lies in each other. Our team pillars are Grit, Unity, and Dedication because they are foundational to who we are. We believe that everyone has the capacity to lead and our stats back it up. At the conclusion of our 2022 campaign, first year Alicia Calderon set the record for saves in a season. Senior captain Britney Flint, became one of only three players in program history to start in every match she played. Every single one of our 6 seniors concluded their careers ranked top 10 in multiple categories including: minutes played, goals, points, assists, and game started.
Focused On The Process
Academically, our team strives to get 1% better everyday. At the conclusion of our fall season, our team GPA was 3.41. We completed the 2023 academic year with a 3.51 team GPA. Our success in the classroom and on the field stretches beyond a single season. Twenty-nine student-athletes have received Athletic Directors Association Academic Awards. Our program has been awarded the United Soccer Coaches Association’s Team Academic Award for our achievements in the classroom.
Power Of Our Community
Year after year we work to build an unbreakable bond, on and off the field. We are not only stronger together, but we are more powerful with the support of the San Francisco community surrounding us. We give back to our beautiful city by working with local food banks, neighborhood clean ups, beach preservation, and after school soccer programs. Over the years, by doing so, we've earned the No.1 spot in NCAA DII NCAA TeamWorks Community Service Competition.
Hear From Alumni
Lauren Nadler, Head Coach
Lauren Nadler is entering her second season as head coach of the Urban Knights. Nadler brings a wealth of knowledge and success to her role at ART U, having coached for more than 12 years at the collegiate level. She has proven experience transforming teams by impacting the people within them. She builds relationships by focusing on excellence, collaboration, developing leaders, and empowering groups to solve problems together.
Prior to coming to ART U, Nadler was the head coach of the women’s soccer program at UC Santa Cruz, where she helped guide the program’s transformation to a consistent postseason contender with a conference championship along the way. A three-time conference coach of the year, Nadler was also twice a National Finalist for NCAA Division III LGTBQ Administrator/Coach of the Year.
With Nadler at the helm, the Banana Slugs cemented themselves in the history books. In 2015, they reached the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance in six years, and would go on to repeat trips in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The Slugs set multiple records including scoring 68 goals, the second-highest total in program history, en route to beginning their campaign with the best start in school history and concluding it with the strongest record in 14 seasons. Additionally, 30 student-athletes were all-conference honorees, while 15 received academic accolades, including the program rostering the conference Freshman of the Year for three consecutive seasons.
A former collegiate soccer player who was a two-year captain and assist leader in the conference, Nadler earned her bachelor’s degree from Lesley University. She continued her education at Tufts University, where she earned her master's degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning. Nadler also holds a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma.
Kaylyn Toyama, Assistant Coach
Kaylyn Toyama is in her fourth season as assistant coach for the Urban Knights. Toyama brings over nine years of coaching experience to her role, including club and high school, where she won a conference championship. At ART U, she acts as the program’s recruiting coordinator, assists with team travel, and player development. Coach Toyama cares deeply about the health and well-being of student-athletes and its apparent in everything she does. Her attention to detail combined with her unapparelled work ethic ensures that those around her reach their goals. By fostering a supportive environment, players see what they are capable of, which in turn inspires them to settle for nothing less than reaching their full potential.
With Coach Kay on the bench at Academy of Art, 61 Urban Knights have been named to the Academic All-PacWest Team. She also coaches at Peninsula Soccer Club where she serves as a college recruitment advisor and the head coach for multiple premier teams.
A former collegiate soccer player herself, Toyama played at San Francisco State and Cosumnes River College. After graduating from SF State in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Systems she played in the WPSL for Spurs East Bay.
Elizabeth Todd, Goalkeeper Coach
Elizabeth Todd is heading into her second season as a volunteer for Academy of Art. Todd’s coaching experience spans the high school and club levels. Coach Todd feels that it is essential to give back to the communities that have helped shape her. Service is central to her coaching -- s she coaches at both her former club and high school. At Pleasanton RAGE she's the head coach of multiple youth teams.She's also the Freshman Team Head Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach, at Bishop O'Dowd High School, her alma mater.
A collegiate goalkeeper for the University of Montana. Todd received the prestigious Presidential Leadership Scholarship and was named to the Academic All-Big Sky Conference team. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and plans to attend graduate school as well as continue playing soccer.