CARBONDALE, Ill. — Stephani Perkins has been named the Associate Head Coach for the Southern Illinois Track and Field program, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Richard Jones announced Thursday. Perkins joins the Salukis coaching staff after previously serving as an assistant coach at BYU.
“I am very excited to add Stephani to our staff,” said Richard Jones. “She will be an integral part of moving our program forward with the athletic development of the sprinters, horizontal jumpers and hurdlers. Her experience at BYU has allowed her to gain a multitude of experience in different disciplines and team dynamics that will be a positive influence on the culture here at SIU. Perkins strong sense of professionalism and dedication to our student-athletes will make this program one of the best collegiate programs in the nation.”
Perkins was at BYU from 2013-2022, where she’s had numerous achievements. Perkins coached two athletes who were named to a total of three All-American teams, had nine athletes earn 11 entries to an NCAA Championship meet, and coached athletes to 31 NCAA West Prelims in several events.
“Coach Jones is very down-to-earth, yet has an intense passion and enthusiasm for his vision of what success of the program will look like under his leadership,” said Perkins. “I am excited about his vision and my role in it, and am eager to begin working with him, the entire staff, and the dynamic scholar-athletes of the Saluki Family.”
Six athletes, who were coached by Perkins, have received All-American Honorable Mention awards. At the MPSF Indoor Championships, Perkins has coached seven individual champions, and four of her athletes have competed at the US Track & FIeld Junior Olympic Championships.
At BYU, Perkins was responsible for recruiting and coaching women’s sprints and hurdles, as well as men and women’s long and triple jump. Perkins was also the 2019 Y-Awards Assistant Coach of the Year recipient. Perkins coached one athlete in the men’s triple jump to the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and had a total of 23 athletes from 2015 to 2019 reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round.
As an athlete, Perkins was on the track and field team at Oklahoma State from 1998-2003. At the 1998 Simplot Games, Perkins broke the school’s record in the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.84. In 2008, she competed in the 2008 AT&T U.S. Indoor National Track and Field Championships in the 60m hurdles. Perkins was also a qualifier in the women’s 60mH in 2008 for the USATF Indoor National Championships, in Boston, Massachusetts.
