Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (816) 235-1033
Bruce Erickson is entering his fourth season with the UMKC women’s basketball program as the Associate Head Coach after spending time at Oklahoma State, most recently as the Director of Player Development. With the 'Roos, Erickson is in charge of post player development and scheduling, while helping with opponent game plans, recruiting and scouting reports.
He served his first three seasons under Candace Whitaker, and stayed with UMKC when Marsha Frese became the head coach in the spring of 2012.
Last season he helped lead the 'Roos to their first 20-win season in the last 20 years, as well as the program's first ever trip to the WNIT. The 'Roos won 22 games and advanced to the Summit League Tournament Championship game for only the second time, falling just short of the NCAA Tournament in an overtime loss.
During his tenure with the 'Roos, Erickson has helped guide the team to 30 wins in two seasons and an appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitational, the first postseason appearance in school history. As a recruiter, Erickson helped bring the No. 55 recruiting class in 2010, including No. 77 Ashli Hill, and the No. 84 class in 2012 to Kansas City. On the court, Erickson, has oversaw the development of Hill, who has littered her named throughout the UMKC record books.
Prior to coming to UMKC, Erickson served as the director of basketball operations in 2006 and was assigned the created roll of director of player development in 2008. During his three years with the program, the team compiled a 64-35 overall record and made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2007-08, OSU advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 and finished with a 27-8 overall record, which tied the school record for most wins in a season. The Cowgirls closed out the year ranked in the top-20 in the final AP (13) and Coaches’ (17) polls. In 2008-09, Oklahoma State finished 17-16 on the year and advanced to the second round of the WNIT.
During his tenure in Stillwater, Erickson helped develop Andrea Riley into the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and First Team all-Big 12 player. He also helped three additional Cowgirl student-athletes earn honorable mention all-conference recognition at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season.
Prior to his appointment at Oklahoma State, Erickson coached high school basketball in Kansas for 24 years. He compiled a 318-192 record during his coaching career at Salina South High School in Salina, Kan., Ellis (Kan.) High School and Morland (Kan.) High School.
He spent 14 years at Salina South High School, made three state tournament appearances and earned the Saline County Coach of the Year award three times. The Cougars earned four conference championships and recorded one runner-up and two third place finishes at state.
Prior to Salina South, Erickson coached at Ellis High School for four years and he began his coaching career at Morland High School. While at Morland, Erickson led the squad to two regular season championships and one conference tournament championship in his six seasons. Erickson also led the football team for six years and they recorded one district title.
Erickson also brings experience at the administration level, having aided in numerous summer camps in his career. He directed the all-American Basketball Camp for 14 years and the USBL’s Kansas Cagerz camp for two years.
Erickson already had strong ties to Kansas City, as two of his daughters were student-athletes at UMKC. His oldest daughter Lori was a member of the women’s basketball team during the 2000-01 season and graduated in 2006 with a degree in nursing. Daughter Cherise played for the women’s golf team from 2006-08 and is still in pursuit of her pharmacy degree.
Erickson is a 1982 graduate of the University of Kansas where he earned his bachelor’s degree in education. He also has an associates of arts degree from Colby (Kan.) Community College.
He and his wife, Rhonda, have three children, Lori, Cherise and Robert.
