[1] Laak dove collegiately at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse under head diving coach, Barry Schockmel, and graduated in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in recreation administration.
[1][6][7][8] In 2008 Laak served as a United States dive team coach during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China and National Team Coach at the USA Grand Prix.
[1][9] That same year Laak was named the NCAA diving national coach of the year after coaching UGA men's diver Chris Colwill to a first-place finish on the 1-meter springboard and two second-place finishes on the 3-meter and platform events and UGA women's diver Hannah Moore to a fourth-place finish on 3-meter spring-board.
[3] For the 2009 FINA Diving World Series, Laak served as a National Team Coach/Team Leader.
[10] Laak judged the World University Games in Yugoslavia in 1987 and Spain in 1999.