TAMPA (August 14, 2023) – University of South Florida Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly has announced the elevation of two of the track and field program's coaches – Head Coach Erik Jenkins has been promoted to Director of Track & Field and Cross Country while Assistant Coach Abigi Id-Deen has been promoted to Associate Head Coach.
Additionally, the program welcomes Assistant Coach Tony Nicolosi who will work with the cross country teams and distance runners. Nicolosi, a graduate of Seminole High School, brings over a decade of coaching experience to South Florida. He most recently was the assistant coach at Austin Peay for the 2022-23 season and prior to that served as the head cross country coach at Cal State East Bay for seven years. Nicolosi, a University of Tampa graduate, helped lead the Spartans' cross country team to its first-ever NCAA Championship berth as a student-athlete in 2007.
"We are excited about the trajectory of our track and field and cross country programs and the accomplishments delivered by Coach Jenkins, his staff and most of all the tremendous student-athletes they mentor daily," Kelly said. "From conference champions, to All-Americans to a two-time national champion high jumper last year, the future is tremendously bright for track and field and cross country at South Florida."
Jenkins was hired as the program's head coach on June 27, 2019. The Bulls have collected 15 individual/relay conference championships during his USF tenure. Id-Deen, who coaches sprints and hurdles, has been with the program since 2020.
The 2023 South Florida track & field season was highlighted by Romaine Beckford winning both the Indoor and Outdoor NCAA National Championship in Men's High Jump. Beckford was named a First Team All-American after both victories. Nia Robinson was named a Second Team All-American in women's long jump after the indoor season and tabbed the Most Outstanding Performance at the AAC Women's Outdoor Championships. The USF 4x200m relay team won the Penn Relays last April and the 4x100m relay team earned honorable mentioned All-American honors following the outdoor season.
About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor & Outdoor Championship in the men's high jump. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record by earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season, the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.
– #GoBulls –
