Academy of Art Urban Knights

The university's athletic department was established in 2006 with the hiring of Jamie Williams as Athletic Director.^[4] In July 2009, Academy of Art began the three-year transition process to become a member of the NCAA. At that time, they joined the Pacific West Conference in Division II. This process was completed successfully with the Urban Knights being granted full membership privileges by the NCAA in July 2012.^[5]

In the 2014–2015 season, the men's cross country team had a second-place finish and the women's team had a record fourth-place finish, earned at the Pacific West Conference Championships. Valentin Pepiot, their third NCAA Nationals individual qualifier, was one of the top finishers from the PacWest in the postseason finale.^[6] Academy of Art earned a record 10 PacWest postseason honors.

For the 2015 indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, they had seven All-American honors and one NCAA individual champion in Jordan Edwards.^[6]

The men's basketball team earned their first victory against a Division I team on November 28, 2021 when they beat the UC Davis Aggies 79–60.^[7]

In April 2024, the Academy announced its athletics program would be discontinued at the conclusion of the 2024–25 academic year.^[1]

The Urban Knights also fielded a baseball program from 2009 to 2023.^[8]

A number of Academy of Art's athletes and staff have participated in professional sports and in the Olympic Games. They include:

• Brandon Poulson – played 2 seasons after being signed by the Minnesota Twins in 2010^[9]
• Mobolade Ajomale – 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the 4 × 100 m relay^[10]
• Lindsey Yamasaki – school's first women's basketball coach played 2 seasons in the WNBA^[11]
• Jamie Williams – school's first athletic director played 12 seasons as a tight end in the NFL