Track & Field
Metcalf, Eric
Eric Metcalf
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant, Jumps
- Email:
- emetcalf@uw.edu
- Phone:
- (206) 543-7914
An NFL legend and former NCAA Champion in the long jump, Eric Metcalf transitioned into a full-time coaching role at Washington, working with the Husky sprinters, following a four year stint as a volunteer assistant from 2013-16. Metcalf has had a long history of developing sprinters from youth and high school levels, to college All-Americans, to elite professionals.
Husky history was made in Metcalf's first season as the full-time sprints coach, as the women's 4x400-meter relay squad qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. The group of Whitney Diggs, Imani Apostol, Darhian Mills, and Laura Anuakpado broke the school record twice, with a best of 3:35.65 at NCAA West Prelims to advance to the final site, where they placed 22nd for All-America honorable mention. AnuakpadoΒ also became the fastest quarter miler in school history, running 53.00 to reach NCAA Outdoors as an individual in her one season as a Husky.
Several more Dawgs had career-best finishes at the conference level. Senior Kennadi Bouyer wrapped up her great career with a third-place finish in the 60-meters at the MPSF meet and then finished a career-best fifth in the 100-meters at Pac-12s. Jacopo SpanoΒ was sixth in the Pac-12 200m final while cracking the UW top-10 in the event at 21.05,Β and Michael Thomas was seventh at 400-meters while the men's 4x400mΒ reached the podium in third-place. Indoors, the women's group broke three school records, with Bouyer running 23.88 for 200m, Anuakpado going 53.34 for 400m, and the 4x400mΒ relay running 3:42.58.
In Metcalf's second full season in 2018, the women's 4x400-meter relay again smashed the school record, this time indoors, as the group of Hanna Tarleton, ImaniΒ Apostol, Carolyn Birkenfeld, and Raquel TjernagelΒ ran 3:37.74. Outdoors, the women's 4x4 just missed a second-straight NCAA trip as it finished 14th at West Prelims in 3:38.03. A young squad had major contributions from freshmen, as Iman Brown broke the indoor 200-meter school record running 23.58 and went to No. 3 outdoors at 23.71, and freshman Olivia Ribera led the team at 100-meters at 11.72 seconds.
The men qualified both relays to the 2018 NCAA West Prelims. The men's 4x4 featured senior Michael Thomas, junior Ryan Croson, and two freshmen, Evan Mafilas and Kemuel Santana, and they ran a season-best 3:08.81 to take fourth at the Pac-12 Championships. Indoors, sophomore Khalil Winfrey had a breakout 60-meter season, going to No. 4 in UW history with a PR of 6.76 seconds, while CrosonΒ ran a big 400-meter PR of 46.84 indoors to take fourth at MPSFsΒ and go to No. 5 in school history.
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During his time as a volunteer assistant, Metcalf worked primarily with Washingtonβs 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.
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Highlighting his time working with the jumps crew was the first ever Pac-12 menβs triple jump title for Kasen Covington in 2013. He also coached Shaniae Lakes to the women's triple jumpΒ school record of 43-3 1/4 in 2012, as Lakes took runner-up honors at Pac-12sΒ just missing the title by an inch. Bouyer got her first ever six-meter long jump in 2015 to take fifth at the Pac-12 Championships, and she went 19-7 Β½ indoors in 2016, the best indoor mark by a Husky since 1995.
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A 13-year veteran in the National Football League, Metcalf made 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.
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A multi-talented player in the National Football League, Metcalf excelled rushing and receiving, including a 1995 season with 104 receptions and 1,189 receiving yards, but was especially known for his kick return skills on special teams. In his second NFL season, he led the league in kickoff return yards (1,052) and return touchdowns (two). He also led the NFL in punt return touchdowns in four different seasons (1993-1995, 1997).
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Overall, Metcalf finished his career with 2,392 rushing yards, 541 receptions for 5,572 yards, 3,453 punt return yards, and 5,813 yards returning kickoffs. This gave him a total of 17,230 all-purpose yards, ranking him among the NFL's top 10 in that category at the time of his retirement. He also scored 55 touchdowns (12 rushing, 31 receiving, ten punt returns, two kickoff returns). Metcalf's 10 punt return touchdowns was an NFL record until Devin Hester broke that mark in 2011, and he still ranks second in NFL history.
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An illustrious track and field career was highlighted by winning the NCAA Championship in the long jump in 1986 and again in 1988 for the University of Texas. Metcalf also won the 1988 USA menβs long jump title at 27-8 ΒΌ which set the Texas school record. A four-time All-American, he made the finals of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, placing eighth.
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On the gridiron at Texas, Metcalf was a three-time member of the All-SWC Team and the 1987 SWC Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP. He is the only player in Texas history to string together four consecutive seasons leading the team in all-purpose yards. Metcalf is a member of the University of Texas Hall of Honor.
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Metcalf also coached former NCAA 400-meter Champion Mike Berry after Berry graduated from Oregon in 2014. Berry made the 400-meter dash finals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.Β A Seattle native, Metcalf began coaching football and track at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle after retiring from the NFL. He also started an elite high school track and field club called Seatown Express.
Metcalf and his wife Lori have three children, eldest daughter Mikeil, and twins Mekhi and Misha.
Husky history was made in Metcalf's first season as the full-time sprints coach, as the women's 4x400-meter relay squad qualified for the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history. The group of Whitney Diggs, Imani Apostol, Darhian Mills, and Laura Anuakpado broke the school record twice, with a best of 3:35.65 at NCAA West Prelims to advance to the final site, where they placed 22nd for All-America honorable mention. AnuakpadoΒ also became the fastest quarter miler in school history, running 53.00 to reach NCAA Outdoors as an individual in her one season as a Husky.
Several more Dawgs had career-best finishes at the conference level. Senior Kennadi Bouyer wrapped up her great career with a third-place finish in the 60-meters at the MPSF meet and then finished a career-best fifth in the 100-meters at Pac-12s. Jacopo SpanoΒ was sixth in the Pac-12 200m final while cracking the UW top-10 in the event at 21.05,Β and Michael Thomas was seventh at 400-meters while the men's 4x400mΒ reached the podium in third-place. Indoors, the women's group broke three school records, with Bouyer running 23.88 for 200m, Anuakpado going 53.34 for 400m, and the 4x400mΒ relay running 3:42.58.
In Metcalf's second full season in 2018, the women's 4x400-meter relay again smashed the school record, this time indoors, as the group of Hanna Tarleton, ImaniΒ Apostol, Carolyn Birkenfeld, and Raquel TjernagelΒ ran 3:37.74. Outdoors, the women's 4x4 just missed a second-straight NCAA trip as it finished 14th at West Prelims in 3:38.03. A young squad had major contributions from freshmen, as Iman Brown broke the indoor 200-meter school record running 23.58 and went to No. 3 outdoors at 23.71, and freshman Olivia Ribera led the team at 100-meters at 11.72 seconds.
The men qualified both relays to the 2018 NCAA West Prelims. The men's 4x4 featured senior Michael Thomas, junior Ryan Croson, and two freshmen, Evan Mafilas and Kemuel Santana, and they ran a season-best 3:08.81 to take fourth at the Pac-12 Championships. Indoors, sophomore Khalil Winfrey had a breakout 60-meter season, going to No. 4 in UW history with a PR of 6.76 seconds, while CrosonΒ ran a big 400-meter PR of 46.84 indoors to take fourth at MPSFsΒ and go to No. 5 in school history.
Β
During his time as a volunteer assistant, Metcalf worked primarily with Washingtonβs 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.
Β
Highlighting his time working with the jumps crew was the first ever Pac-12 menβs triple jump title for Kasen Covington in 2013. He also coached Shaniae Lakes to the women's triple jumpΒ school record of 43-3 1/4 in 2012, as Lakes took runner-up honors at Pac-12sΒ just missing the title by an inch. Bouyer got her first ever six-meter long jump in 2015 to take fifth at the Pac-12 Championships, and she went 19-7 Β½ indoors in 2016, the best indoor mark by a Husky since 1995.
Β
A 13-year veteran in the National Football League, Metcalf made 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.
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A multi-talented player in the National Football League, Metcalf excelled rushing and receiving, including a 1995 season with 104 receptions and 1,189 receiving yards, but was especially known for his kick return skills on special teams. In his second NFL season, he led the league in kickoff return yards (1,052) and return touchdowns (two). He also led the NFL in punt return touchdowns in four different seasons (1993-1995, 1997).
Β
Overall, Metcalf finished his career with 2,392 rushing yards, 541 receptions for 5,572 yards, 3,453 punt return yards, and 5,813 yards returning kickoffs. This gave him a total of 17,230 all-purpose yards, ranking him among the NFL's top 10 in that category at the time of his retirement. He also scored 55 touchdowns (12 rushing, 31 receiving, ten punt returns, two kickoff returns). Metcalf's 10 punt return touchdowns was an NFL record until Devin Hester broke that mark in 2011, and he still ranks second in NFL history.
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An illustrious track and field career was highlighted by winning the NCAA Championship in the long jump in 1986 and again in 1988 for the University of Texas. Metcalf also won the 1988 USA menβs long jump title at 27-8 ΒΌ which set the Texas school record. A four-time All-American, he made the finals of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, placing eighth.
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On the gridiron at Texas, Metcalf was a three-time member of the All-SWC Team and the 1987 SWC Offensive Player of the Year and Team MVP. He is the only player in Texas history to string together four consecutive seasons leading the team in all-purpose yards. Metcalf is a member of the University of Texas Hall of Honor.
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Metcalf also coached former NCAA 400-meter Champion Mike Berry after Berry graduated from Oregon in 2014. Berry made the 400-meter dash finals at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.Β A Seattle native, Metcalf began coaching football and track at Rainier Beach High School in Seattle after retiring from the NFL. He also started an elite high school track and field club called Seatown Express.
Metcalf and his wife Lori have three children, eldest daughter Mikeil, and twins Mekhi and Misha.
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