Eriksen was honored at a Tampa City Council meeting earlier this week
TAMPA, FLA. Oct. 22, 2021 – University of South Florida head softball coach Ken Eriksen was recognized with a commendation at the Tampa City Council meeting on Thursday and was surprised when friends, family, community supporters and donors created an endowed scholarship in his name.
“I am absolutely and completely humbled by the endowment in my name,” Eriksen said. “It actually represents every young woman that has attended USF to play softball. Just that in itself, of being recognized by the very generous people that made this happen, is exhilarating for me.”
The Ken Eriksen Olympic Endowment will exist in perpetuity and provide a USF softball player with the opportunity to gain a preeminent education. Those looking to support the scholarship can do so HERE. The scholarship was created in support of USF’s Stampede for Women initiative.
The goal of Stampede for Women is to raise awareness and empower female student-athletes to overcome challenges through gathering community support of USF women’s athletics programs. The Stampede for Women supports 10 women’s sports programs and over 200 student-athletes within USF Athletics. For more information on the Stampede for Women, click here.
“Ken has impacted countless lives in his time as a softball coach,” Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly said. “He’s a great teacher and mentor for our student-athletes both on and off the field, and we’re proud the community has united behind him through the Stampede for Women to endow a scholarship in his name that continues the legacy of excellence he’s building at the helm of our softball team.”
The scholarship was presented to Eriksen as the City of Tampa commended him for guiding USA Softball to a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the first time that softball played on the Olympic stage since 2008.
Eriksen was also issued a commendation in late summer by the Hillsborough County Commission for his 1,000th win as head coach. He was the 28th NCAA Division I head coach to reach the milestone, and just the second to do it entirely at a Florida school. USF’s all-time winningest head coach in any sport now boasts a 1,006-521-1 record in his 24 seasons at USF.
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 15 NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2012.
– #GoBulls –
