University of Lethbridge Athletics

Head Coach Larry Steinke is truly a graduate of track and field and is one of only a handful of nationally certified level V coaches and has been involved in track and field for more than 35 years. 

Along with being the Pronghorn head coach he has also been part of the Canadian National Team Program for more than 20 years and has coached at eight World Championships and five Olympic Games as well as numerous other international events such as Commonwealth and Pan American Games.  His athletes have accounted for a plethora of international medals, 2 world records, 7 Canadian records, numerous provincial records, as well as many Canadian National Championship medals. While under his tutelage Pronghorn athletes have won more than 50 CIS national championship medals, 80 Canada West Championships medals, and have set 6 Canada West and CIS national records. Many of these Pronghorn athletes have also been the recipients of Canada West and CIS rookie of the year and Athlete of the Year accolades. Coaching awards for Steinke have included being named the Athletics Alberta High Performance Coach of the year 7 times and has received the Alberta Sport Coaching recognition award and was recently inducted into the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame. 

Larry not only works with the universities outstanding athletes, but also conducts clinics and camps Provincially and Nationally and is heavily involved with Coach Education and Mentorship across the country. A logical extension of his coaching is his interest in, and extensive knowledge of, Speed, Strength and Power development. He is involved with programs Nationally and in Southern Alberta that are designed to develop the speed and power of athletes in numerous sports. He runs speed and power sessions for athletes in a variety of sports and has worked extensively with winter and summer sport Olympians. He has also developed high performance athletes for Rugby, Football, Basketball, and Volleyball as well as Strongman competitors, Highland Games athletes, and  All-Strength Challenge athletes.

As an athlete Steinke was mentored by some of the best coaches in the world and was coached by George Gemer throughout his University career where he was a successful multi-event athlete. He was an accomplished hurdler and long/triple jumper while attending University and later went on to become a multiple national team member and national champion in javelin. He was named Athletics Alberta's Outstanding Athlete of the Year and was nominated for this award numerous times during his career. He won more than 28 provincial championships in Javelin, shot put and jumping events during his tenure. 

Well respected by athletes and coaches he is known for his motto: "There is no failure but in ceasing to try".