Eric Metcalf Hired To Lead Husky Sprints Squad
October 01, 2016 | Track & Field
SEATTLE – There's a new Coach Metcalf in town, as Husky Track & Field Head Coach Greg Metcalf has named former NFL standout Eric Metcalf as the new assistant coach for the Washington sprints and relays group. Eric Metcalf has spent the past four seasons serving as a volunteer assistant with the UW program, and now moves into his first full-time collegiate coaching role.
A two-time NCAA Champion in the long jump at the University of Texas, Metcalf enjoyed a 13-year career in the National Football League, making his debut in 1989 with Cleveland after the Browns drafted him with the 13th overall pick in the first round. He spent his first six seasons with the Browns, then moved on to play for the Falcons, Chargers, Cardinals, Panthers, Redskins and Packers, last appearing with Green Bay in the 2002 season. Metcalf was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, making the team in 1994 and 1995 with Cleveland and in 1997 with San Diego.
After his playing days were over, Metcalf returned to his native Seattle and began coaching football and track at Rainier Beach High School. He also started an elite high school track and field club called Seatown Express.
"Being around the program the past few years, becoming familiar with the athletes and the coaches, and being at home here in Seattle all made this a natural move for me," said Eric Metcalf. "I'm just excited to get to work. That's what I love, being at the track, and that's where you'll find me. More and more talent is coming out of Washington and I want to see them reach that next level as Huskies."
During his time as a volunteer assistant from 2013-16, Metcalf worked primarily with Washington's horizontal jumpers, but also coached Kennadi Bouyer in the sprints. Bouyer broke the UW school record for 60-meters indoors and became the first Husky ever to make the NCAA Indoor Championship 60m final in 2016, running a PR of 7.27 in the semis. Bouyer also made it to the NCAA Outdoor Championship final site at 100-meters, placing 20th overall.
Highlighting his time working with the jumps crew was Washington's first ever Pac-12 men's triple jump title for Kasen Covington in 2013. He also coached women's triple jump school record-holder Shaniae Lakes to a strong comeback season after she missed a year due to injury, as Lakes was fourth at Pac-12s in 2014 and made NCAA Prelims. Bouyer got her first ever six-meter long jump in 2015 to take fifth at the Pac-12 Championships, and she went 19-7 ½ indoors in 2016, the best indoor mark by a Husky since 1995.
"Eric Metcalf has a wealth of experience both on the football field and on the track. He has just been around great athletes his entire life, and he understands what greatness is," said Greg Metcalf. "That's my desire for our kids, I want them to be exposed to greatness and have that expectation and that's what Eric brings.
"This is his first collegiate coaching job but he's had great successes with his club and at Rainier Beach he coached some of the best sprinters in the history of the state of Washington, and he's done great work with Kennadi Bouyer here. I think he deserves a shot and he wanted it. The initial response from our team is excitement to be working with Coach Metcalf."
Metcalf will focus on the sprints and relays, while volunteer assistant Mark Macdonald will focus on the Husky hurdlers. Macdonald coached sprints and hurdles for two decades at rival Washington State and coached athletes that won 13 Pac-12 titles and four NCAA championships. One of Macdonald's top athletes, three-time NCAA 400m hurdles champion Jeshua Anderson, will also serve as a volunteer assistant this season.
A two-time NCAA Champion in the long jump at the University of Texas, Metcalf enjoyed a 13-year career in the National Football League, making his debut in 1989 with Cleveland after the Browns drafted him with the 13th overall pick in the first round. He spent his first six seasons with the Browns, then moved on to play for the Falcons, Chargers, Cardinals, Panthers, Redskins and Packers, last appearing with Green Bay in the 2002 season. Metcalf was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, making the team in 1994 and 1995 with Cleveland and in 1997 with San Diego.
After his playing days were over, Metcalf returned to his native Seattle and began coaching football and track at Rainier Beach High School. He also started an elite high school track and field club called Seatown Express.
"Being around the program the past few years, becoming familiar with the athletes and the coaches, and being at home here in Seattle all made this a natural move for me," said Eric Metcalf. "I'm just excited to get to work. That's what I love, being at the track, and that's where you'll find me. More and more talent is coming out of Washington and I want to see them reach that next level as Huskies."
During his time as a volunteer assistant from 2013-16, Metcalf worked primarily with Washington's horizontal jumpers, but also coached Kennadi Bouyer in the sprints. Bouyer broke the UW school record for 60-meters indoors and became the first Husky ever to make the NCAA Indoor Championship 60m final in 2016, running a PR of 7.27 in the semis. Bouyer also made it to the NCAA Outdoor Championship final site at 100-meters, placing 20th overall.
Highlighting his time working with the jumps crew was Washington's first ever Pac-12 men's triple jump title for Kasen Covington in 2013. He also coached women's triple jump school record-holder Shaniae Lakes to a strong comeback season after she missed a year due to injury, as Lakes was fourth at Pac-12s in 2014 and made NCAA Prelims. Bouyer got her first ever six-meter long jump in 2015 to take fifth at the Pac-12 Championships, and she went 19-7 ½ indoors in 2016, the best indoor mark by a Husky since 1995.
"Eric Metcalf has a wealth of experience both on the football field and on the track. He has just been around great athletes his entire life, and he understands what greatness is," said Greg Metcalf. "That's my desire for our kids, I want them to be exposed to greatness and have that expectation and that's what Eric brings.
"This is his first collegiate coaching job but he's had great successes with his club and at Rainier Beach he coached some of the best sprinters in the history of the state of Washington, and he's done great work with Kennadi Bouyer here. I think he deserves a shot and he wanted it. The initial response from our team is excitement to be working with Coach Metcalf."
Metcalf will focus on the sprints and relays, while volunteer assistant Mark Macdonald will focus on the Husky hurdlers. Macdonald coached sprints and hurdles for two decades at rival Washington State and coached athletes that won 13 Pac-12 titles and four NCAA championships. One of Macdonald's top athletes, three-time NCAA 400m hurdles champion Jeshua Anderson, will also serve as a volunteer assistant this season.
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