Greetings To Gilreath

ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – UCF head coach Jeanette Bolden has announced the hiring of Erin Gilreath as an assistant coach. Gilreath, a Florida native who joins the Knights after six seasons at Indiana State, will be responsible for the throwing events.
 
"We're very excited to add a Floridian to our staff," Bolden said. "I'm looking forward to the energy and passion for track and field that Erin brings. It will not take her long to continue leading our throwers to a higher level. Her knowledge as an athlete and hands-on experience coaching has led to a successful career at Indiana State, and we're looking forward to having her continue that as a UCF Knight."
 
In Gilreath, UCF has also added another Olympian to its staff. She represented the United States in the hammer throw at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Gilreath is also a three-time USA Indoor Champion and two-time USA Outdoor Champion. A member of the 2005 and 2008 World Championship team and 2006 World Cup team, she set the American record in the hammer throw (242-4/73.87m) in 2005.

Gilreath is also a USA Track and Field Level 2 instructor and coach.
 
Among her numerous accomplishments as the Sycamores throwing coach, she guided Felisha Johnson to her second national title in the weight throw in 2013. Johnson went on to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
 
In addition to Johnson, she coached Brandon Pounds to All-American performances in the weight throw and hammer throw and Mary Theisen to a pair of All-America honors. During her tenure at Indiana State, she guided four school record holders, seven conference champions and 16 all-conference performers.
 
"I was really impressed with UCF as an institution, the campus and everything they have to offer student-athletes," Gilreath said. "I think that Coach Bolden and Coach Gray will be really awesome coaches to work with daily. I'm excited to coach different student-athletes, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of the changes that are ahead of me. I'm really excited to get back home to Florida too."
 
Prior to Indiana State, Gilreath served as an assistant coach at Anderson University where she coordinated recruiting and developed and implemented training programs for male and female throwers. The Ravens collected five Heartland Christian Athletic Conference championships and sent a pair of qualifiers to the NCAA Division III championships.
 
A native of north Central Florida, Gilreath earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Florida in 2003. While competing for the Gators, she captured the 2003 NCAA indoor title in the weight throw.
 
Gilreath served as a graduate assistant at Ball State while pursuing a Master of Arts in sport administration in 2009. In 2011, she added a Master of Arts in coaching and sports performance. Also a published author, Gilreath is a Ph.D candidate at Indiana State, specializing in higher education.