Erik Jenkins is entering his fifth season as the head coach of the USF track and field and cross country program and was hired for the position on June 27, 2019.
In his role as Director of Track & Field and Cross County, which he was named to on August 14, 2023, Jenkins oversees all aspects of the program, essentially functioning as the department’s general manager.
The Bulls have collected 23 individual and relay event conference championships, the program’s first men’s team conference championship, and two individual event national championships under the Quincy, Fla. native’s leadership.
In 2024, Jenkins guided the men’s team to an indoor track and field conference championship (156 points), the first men’s championship indoor or outdoor, in program history. Overall, at the conference championships, the Bulls had eight event winners. Kobe Babin won the men’s pole vault, Nathan Metelus won the men’s 400m, Jaleel Croal won the men’s 200m and 60m, Markel Jones won the men’s 60m hurdles, and Zayquan Lincoln, Devontie Archer, Markel Jones, and Daunte O’Banion won the men’s 4x400m relay. The women finished third at the indoor conference championships, with Terren Peterson winning the women’s 200m and Zahria Allers-Liburd, Amenda Saint Louis, Je’Niya Burton, and Peterson running the women’s 4x400m relay that won. Croal was awarded the most valuable performer of conference championships, Jones won conference freshman of the year for the indoor season, and Jenkins and staff won conference staff of the year for indoor. Jenkins’ indoor teams broke a program record on 19 occasions this season, including five at conference championships.
In 2023 Under Jenkins, South Florida saw their first national champion since 1993. Romaine Beckford won both indoor and outdoor men’s high jump national championships. Beckford also swept indoor and outdoor AAC championships, en route to being named an All-American in both indoor and outdoor and setting the men’s high jump program record (2.26m). Jenkins team also sent the men's 4x100m relay team of Danelson Mahautiere, Shevioe Reid, Jaleel Croal, and Zayquan Lincoln to the outdoor NCAA Championships (finished 24th). The men’s team took third place overall at the indoor conference championships, and overall South Florida had three event winners. Beckford, David Ajama took first in the triple jump, and the men's 4x400 team of Daunte O'Banion, Shevioe Reid, Parker, and Wright took first as well. Nia Robinson was also named indoor track and field All-American and qualified for the women’s long jump indoor NCAA Championship (finished 13th). For outdoors, South Florida hosted the AAC championships, winning five events and setting six program records. Alongside Beckford’s win, Sanique Walker won the women’s 400m hurdles, Shevioe Reid won the men’s 400m, Nia Robinson won the women’s long jump, and the women’s 4x400m relay team of Benjamin, Zahria Allers-Liburd, Doneisha Anderson, and Je’Niya Burton came in first setting a new program record.
In 2022, Jenkins coached four NCAA qualifiers and All-Americans in outdoor track and field, Romaine Beckford in men’s high jump (13th), Sanique Walker in women’s 400m hurdles (17th), Shaneylix Davila in the women’s 100m hurdles (20th), and Shaniya Benjamin in the women’s long jump (20th). Jenkins coached multiple outdoor AAC championship winners including, Annia Ashley in the women’s high jump, Romaine Beckford in the men’s high jump, and the men’s 4x400m relay team of Elijah Wright, Joshua St. Clair, Michael Bourne III, and Monte Parker. During the indoor season, Jenkins helped guide Beckford to an NCAA Championship appearance in men’s high jump (15th) and a second-team All-American recognition. Beckford also won the men’s high jump AAC championship for indoors. Shaniya Benjamin won the women’s long jump indoor AAC championship and was named conference freshman of the year for the indoor season.
Under Jenkins’ guidance, the 2021 women’s 100m relay broke the school record in 43.95 seconds, were named All-Americans, and qualified for NCAA Championships. The women’s 400m relay also punched their ticket to NCAA Championships after breaking the school record four times within the 2021 season and being named AAC Champions. The men’s 4x400m set a school record and posted a time of 3 minutes and 7.43 seconds in outdoor AAC Championships to become NCAA qualifiers while the men’s 4x100m set the number two outdoor all-time record at 40.48.
In 2020, Jenkins instantly brought success to USF in his first season with the Bulls. Under his direction, Stephanie Lambeth was crowned The American indoor champion in the pole vault and became the first conference champion for USF since it joined the league in 2013. Adriana Janic also earned all-conference accolades with a second-place finish in the heptathlon, and Stone Baker took third place in the pole vault and became the third Bull selected to the all-conference team. The 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to COVID-19.
Jenkins has helped rewrite both the men’s and women’s program record books. Jenkins has coached new men’s indoor program record holders: Abdul Rasheed-Saminu - men’s 60m (6.57), Shevioe Reid – men’s 200m (20.67), Markel Jones – men’s 400m (47.08), Karim Belmahdi – men’s 800 (1:50.06), Tre’Sean Bouie/Shevioe Reid/Markel Jones/Daunte O’Banion – men’s 4x400m relay (3:07.61), Kobe Babin – men’s pole vault (5.38m), Romaine Beckford – men’s high jump (2.26m), Goodness Iredia – men’s long jump (7.52m), and Johann Jeremiah – men’s shot put (17.02m).
As well as men’s outdoor program record holders: Michael Bourne III – men’s 110m hurdles (13.91), Elijah Wright – men’s 400m (45.90), Danelson Mahautiere/Shevioe Reid/Jaleel Croal/Zayquan Lincoln – men’s 4x100m relay (39.77), Duncan Agyemang/Monte Parker/Toluwani Adebakin/Stefone Moore-Green – men’s 4x400m relay (3:07.43), Romaine Beckford – men’s high jump (2.27m), Kobe Babin – men’s pole vault (5.36m), Johan Jeremiah – men’s shot put (17.39m), and Eron Carter – men’s hammer (61.39).
Jenkins also has led new women’s indoor program record holders: Shaneylix Davila – women’s 60m hurdles (8.19), Zahria Allers Liburd – women’s 200m (23.65), Je’Niya Burton – women’s 400m (53.33), Zahria Allers-Liburd/Shaniya Benjamin/Terren Peterson/Amenda Saint Louis – women’s 4x400m relay (3:35.19), and Adriana Janic – women’s pentathlon (3,906).
As well as women’s outdoor program record holders: Shaneylix Davila – women’s 100m hurdles (13.17), Sanique Walker – women’s 400m hurdles (55.87), Shaniya Benjamin – women’s 200m (23.11), Je’Niya Burton – women’s 400m (52.74), Zahria Allers-Liburd/Shaniya Benjamin/Gabrielle DesRosiers/Kadesha Prescott– women’s 4x100m relay (43.95), Shaniya Benjamin/Zahria Allers-Liburd/Doneisha Anderson/Je’Niya Burton – women’s 4x400m relay (3:32.24), Nia Robinson – women’s long jump (6.69m),
Jenkins arrived in Tampa after serving 11 seasons as the head coach at Western Kentucky. During his time as head coach of the Hilltoppers, Jenkins led Western Kentucky to 30 Sun Belt and Conference USA championships, was tabbed conference coach of the year 21 times between outdoor and indoor nominations, and was selected as the USFTCCA Southeast Region Coach of the Year five times.
Jenkins was also an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at WKU from 2000-07.
Prior to coaching, Jenkins was a four-year letterwinner at Western Kentucky from 1995-99, where he was a Sun Belt Conference champion, NCAA qualifier, and six-time all-league performer. His primary event was the long jump, and he was crowned Sun Belt champion and Performer of the Meet while qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 1999. He also competed for the Hilltoppers in the 200 and 400 meters and was a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.
Jenkins earned his bachelor's degree in mass communications from WKU in 2000 and earned a master's degree in organizational communication in 2006. Jenkins has also received USATF Level II certifications in sprints, jumps, and throws. He has two daughters, Erykah and Kaeliana, and one son, Erik, and is married to Kacey Jenkins.
Overall, Jenkins has coached seven conference freshmen of the year, 26 conference most outstanding performers, and guided his teams to 183 individual and 24 relay championships since 2008. As well as the 2024 men’s conference championship.
In addition, Jenkins has coached 238 NCAA preliminary participants, 123 NCAA final participants and 88 All-Americans. In addition to his NCAA success, Jenkins has also coached five Olympic Trials qualifiers, four World Championship qualifiers, and two Olympians.
