TAMPA, FLA. October 12, 2022 – He came to USF as a wide-eyed teenager with the idea of playing baseball and getting an education, probably to set up an international law career in Washington’s high-powered political climate.
Instead, Ken Eriksen earned the rewards of a life he never imagined, one wrapped completely in green and gold.
“Forty-three years here … incredible,’’ said Eriksen, USF’s internationally acclaimed Hall of Fame softball coach. “I feel like I just graduated high school. The relationships will last forever, but it has been the blink of an eye. I feel I’ve truly been blessed.’’
Eriksen’s blessings will continue during USF’s Homecoming week. On Thursday night, Eriksen will be presented a Distinguished Alumni Award from the USF Alumni Association during an awards dinner at the Marshall Center.
Eriksen (Political Science ’84) will be honored alongside Ernest P. Boger II (Psychology ’65), USF’s first Black student and graduate who became an international leader in hospitality industry education, and Michael Rao (Chemistry ’87), who is now president of Virginia Commonwealth University.
“Seriously? I’m in that group? I’m a softball coach,’’ Eriksen said. “Those guys are going to stand up there with all their letters and accomplishments. I’ll stand up behind them giving the hit-and-run and bunt signs. What am I doing here?’’
Humorously self-effacing statements are nothing new for Eriksen. Just before taking his Bulls to the 2012 Women’s College World Series, still one of the top accomplishments in USF Athletics history, Eriksen said his wife observed his ongoing softball obsession and called him an “idiot savant.’’
“Come to think of it,’’ Eriksen said with a smile, “I’m not even sure she used the word ‘savant.’ ‘’
Laughs aside, few college softball coaches can match Eriksen’s accomplishments.
Eriksen’s USF softball teams have participated in 17 NCAA Tournaments with four Sweet 16 appearances and two Super Regional berths. His Bulls also have earned five conference titles and he has more than 1,000 career victories.
On the international stage, he was head coach of the USA’s silver-medalist team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while capturing gold at Athens, Greece as an assistant on the 2004 team. His teams won two World Championship gold medals, while earning eight other medals at the Pan-American Games, Japan Cup and the U.S. World Cup of Softball.
“It’s so unusual to spend your whole student and career life, going through so many administrations here athletically, but I truly think the love of Tampa and USF in particular has kept him here,’’ said Michael Kelly, USF’s vice president of athletics. “His accomplishments speak for themselves and we’re very grateful for this type of recognition from the university, which is very much deserved.
“I think Ken is very humble and diligent in the way he approaches everything. He is very comfortable in his skin about where he wants to be and what he sees as his role and mission in life. I was here in the USF administration when Ken was still early in his head-coaching career. When I came back (in 2018), he was obviously much more accomplished and established. But he was the same guy.’’
Eriksen said he doesn’t feel he has changed much since he was the 18-year-old resident of Stony Brook, New York, who flew to Tampa alone, took a cab to the USF campus and was told to call home once a week so his parents could know he was safe and doing well.
He’s still doing well. Long ago at USF, he was safe at home.
“I came here to play baseball for Robin Roberts (the Hall of Famer who was then USF’s coach) because I felt I could develop as a player and the weather was fantastic,’’ Eriksen said. “You don’t leave your hometown with any kind of plan other than getting through the next day. You have trouble seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, graduating and moving on.
“Plans can change. What you see for your life can change. I had opportunities to go to other places, but why do that when you’ve got such a good thing going? Our USF program can win a national championship. It’s a place I love. So we stacked up the years, built more great relationships than I probably deserve, and here we are. You don’t do these things for honors or recognition. I’m just thinking about the next practice. The whole thing is very humbling and longevity has something to do with it, but it’s truly an honor to be recognized by my school.’’
Eriksen describes himself as a “very private person.’’ He doesn’t do social media. He’s happiest while preparing his teams for the season and his players for successful lives.
“The softball games, they’re kind of like a show on the other side of the fence,’’ Eriksen said. “But the game eventually ends. The less people know about me, the easier it is for me to do my job. I like to keep my circle small and my players in the softball cocoon.
“Everybody likes to win, right? But for me, the game is not about the scoreboard. It’s about teaching these young people how to play the game, then how to be successful and survivors in this world. That’s my scoreboard.’’
About USF Softball
Be sure to follow USF softball on social media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) and visit GoUSFBulls.com for the most up-to-date information. The USF softball program has been one of the most successful on campus, making 17 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
