Academy of Art University Athletics

Leif Ekelund, a former collegiate and professional baseball player, joins the Urban Knights as the program’s first baseball head coach in 2008.

Ekelund comes to the Academy of Art University after playing three seasons for the University of Vermont and one season professionally. At Vermont, Ekelund and the Catamounts won the America East Conference Regular Season Championship in 2003. The team was also named New England Division I Team of the Year after a school-best 32-win season in 2003.

Ekelund finished his senior season among the America East Conference leaders with a .326 batting average. After completing his career at the Vermont, Ekelund moved to San Francisco to begin graduate studies at the Academy of Art University. In the middle of his first year, Ekelund decided to give professional baseball a try and flew to Phoenix, Arizona for a weekend tryout. After a great showing that weekend, he signed a contract with the Surprise (Ariz.) Fightin’ Falcons of the Golden Baseball League for the summer of 2005.

During his rookie season, Ekelund batted .280 with eight doubles, three triples, and two home runs and was named Honorable Mention League All-Star. He had his option picked up for the summer of 2006, but the team closed operations before the season. Ekelund’s return to the Academy of Art University in 2006 coincided with the announcement of the athletics program under Dr. Jamie Williams. Ekelund immediately knew he wanted to help start the Urban Knights baseball program and was soon named the team’s head coach.

In March of 2008, Ekelund signed another pro contract and joined the spring training roster with the Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League. A native of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Ekelund was a three-sport athlete for Cape Elizabeth High School, starring on the baseball, ice hockey, and soccer teams. He received numerous honors during his varsity baseball career, including All-State Maine (1998-99), Maine State MVP (1999), and Maine Gatorade Player of the Year (1999).

Ekelund graduated from the University of Vermont in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and a minor in Art History. In addition to his coaching duties, Ekelund continues to work on his masters of Fine Arts in Visual Effects and plans to complete his studies this year. Ekelund also created the Urban Knights logo.