Ken Eriksen Head Coach University of South Florida

Eriksen has tried to embody this philosophy first as a player, then as an assistant coach, and now as head coach--all at USF. Through it all, he has come out a winner. Now entering his 12th season as USF’s head coach and his 23rd overall with the softball program, Eriksen is imparting this wisdom to his players. Since Eriksen became head coach in 1997, he has ended the season with a winning record on 10 occasions. While at the helm of one of the most successful programs on campus, Eriksen has led seven teams to the NCAA Regional, won a Regional Championship in 2006, made a Super Regional appearance that same year and has won two conference titles. In all, Eriksen has amassed a record of 508-260-1 and became the winningest coach in the history of the program. He has coached four All-Americans, including two-time All-American Monica Triner (1998 and 1999), 10 All-Region selections and seven NCAA All-Regional Team members. Success has come off the field as well. Under Eriksen, USF has had six Academic All-Americans and nine Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal winners. In 2001 and 2003, USF finished first in C-USA among softball teams with a cumulative grade point average of 3.24. Eriksen has guided USF to five 50-win seasons and five 40-plus win seasons. The Bulls posted 44, 41 and 43-win seasons from 1999-2001 and 2007. In 1999, USF had been ranked as high as No. 6 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll during the season. USF finished the 2003 season with a 54-19 record, and Eriksen was named the Conference USA Coach of the Year. In 2004, USF finished with a record of 60-14--the highest win total in school history--and ranked 12th in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. In 2006, the Bulls entered their first year with a new conference - the BIG EAST - and made an immediate impact, finishing second in the league with a record of 17-3. USF made history by making its fourth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Regional and then went on to win the Gainesville Regional, posting a perfect record of 3-0. Out of three BIG EAST teams that made it to postseason play, USF was the only team to advance to Super Regionals. For the third time under his direction, the Bulls were one step away from making a trip to the Women’s College World Series. The 1998 season was one of the most successful seasons for the Bulls, as they finished 57-14 and won their second-consecutive SASA (ACC) regular-season title. Eriksen, who garnered acclaim as the Southeast Region Coach of the Year, led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight year. USF almost made an appearance in Oklahoma City, but fell to to Texas in the NCAA Regional finals. During his first year at the helm in 1997, Eriksen guided USF to its then-best-ever national ranking at No. 14 in the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, finishing 50-13 and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. In total, six of Eriksen’s teams have finished the season ranked in the Top 25. Eriksen began his affiliation with USF over 25 years ago when the freshman from Stony Brook, Long Island, first appeared in Tampa as a baseball player for Hall of Famer Robin Roberts. It was under Roberts and former USF coach Eddie Cardieri that Eriksen learned the strategy and execution involved with quality ball. In four seasons, Eriksen posted a .315 batting average and a 2.84 ERA while playing five different positions for the Bulls. In 1982 he was named to the All-Regional Team as an outfielder. After earning his bachelor's degree in political science, Eriksen decided to turn his attentions from the baseball diamond to the softball arena. He competed at the elite fastpitch level with the Clearwater Bombers from 1986-93, and he completed his playing career with Miller-Toyota of Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1993-95. During his playing career, Eriksen amassed a wealth of international experience. He participated in eight ISC World Championships and eight ASA National Major Championships. In 1988, he was a member of a select team that represented the United States against the Cuban National Team. In 1991, Eriksen was the catcher on the United States National Fastpitch Team that won a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Cuba. In 1992, he was named First Team All-World as a catcher and to the All-North American Team. Eriksen won three Olympic Festival silver medals along with an ASA National Championship in 1997 with the Tampa Bay Smokers. That year he was named the head coach for the Men's 19U World Team that represented the United States in St. John's, Newfoundland. In 2001, Eriksen was named assistant coach with the United States Women's National Team and made history helping lead TEAM USA to an Olympic gold medal in 2004 while becoming the only USF coach in school history to accomplish such a feat. Eriksen, who still holds his position with the national team, primary responsibilities are pitching, catching and scouting. Throughout his coaching and playing career, Eriksen has added to his workload with camps and clinics. He is also thoroughly devoted to his family. Eriksen lives with his wife Debra, his 11-year-old daughter Tatiana and his seven-year-old daughter Natasha.

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Linda Derk Head Coach,
Tampa Bay Firestix Women's Professional Softball League (WPSL)