Decorated high school head coach and accomplished collegiate player Erica Cowhick begins her first season as an assistant coach at Simpson in 2012.

A two-time City Coach of the Year for Seaman High School in Topeka, Kan., Cowhick experienced great success in her four years on the sidelines. From 2008-2011 she led the Vikings to a record 131-45, including three trips to the state tournament. Her teams placed third in class 5A in 2008 and 2009 and fourth in 2011. She was named City Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2011, and in 2009 she earned 5A State Coach of the Year honors as the Vikings were dubbed the 5A Program of the Year.

Prior to her head-coaching career, Cowhick was a standout libero at NCAA Division II Washburn University in Topeka. The three-time all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association performer closed her career as the program’s all-time digs leader, amassing 2,464 from 2004-2007. She earned first team all-conference honors in 2005 and landed on the second team in 2006 and 2007. She was named first team all-region in 2005 and second team all-region in 2006 and 2007 and was Washburn’s Female Athlete of the Year as a senior. Cowhick helped the Lady Blues to the NCAA Tournament four times, including a third-place finish in 2007.

Cowhick graduated from Washburn in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She went on to earn her master’s in curriculum and instruction from Emporia State University in 2011.