Eric Chilson enters his fourth season as the head coach of the University of Sioux Falls men's and women's cross country and track & field programs in 2026-27 and his ninth year overall with Cougar Athletics. Prior to being elevated to head coach in 2023, Chilson spent five seasons with the program as an assistant and associate head coach while overseeing the men's and women's sprinters, hurdlers, combined events, and strength and conditioning programs.
Under Chilson's leadership, the Cougars have continued to make significant strides both competitively and academically. Since taking over the programs in 2023, USF has produced seven NCAA All-America performances, more than 30 NSIC All-Conference performances, two NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year recipients, two NSIC Elite 18 Award winners, numerous NCAA provisional qualifying marks, and several school records. His student-athletes have also earned multiple NSIC Athlete of the Week honors while continuing the program's tradition of academic excellence with hundreds of academic recognitions, including NSIC All-Academic honors, Team of Excellence selections, and Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction awards.
During the 2025-26 season, Chilson guided the track and field programs to one of their strongest campaigns in recent history. Senior sprinter Tamia Horton completed one of the most decorated seasons in school history, totaling 30 top-10 finishes while capturing conference championships in both the indoor 60-meter dash and outdoor 100-meter dash. Horton shattered school records in both events with times of 7.35 seconds in the 60 meters and 11.32 seconds in the 100 meters, earning NCAA All-America honors in both disciplines. She concluded her season with a sixth-place finish in the 100 meters at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships and was named the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year. Horton also collected NSIC Women's Track Athlete of the Week honors, Academic Achievement recognition, and All-Academic accolades.
Chilson also mentored junior multi-event standout Jonny Cheney to one of the best all-around seasons in program history. Cheney earned NCAA All-America honors in the heptathlon after capturing the NSIC indoor championship with a school-record 5,212 points. He established school records in the heptathlon, high jump (6-9.50), and as a member of the 4x400-meter relay team that set the indoor (3:15.11) school record and the 4x100-meter relay team that set the outdoor (41.89) school record. During the outdoor season, Cheney posted personal bests in the high jump, long jump, 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, discus, javelin, and decathlon while earning All-Conference honors in both the decathlon and high jump. He also garnered NSIC Field Athlete of the Week honors and multiple USF Athlete of the Week recognitions.
Elsewhere on the track and field roster, Andrew Edwards captured an NSIC championship in the weight throw while breaking the school record with a mark of 67 feet, 5.5 inches. The men's sprint relays also enjoyed historic success, setting new school records in both the outdoor 4x400-meter relay (3:12.98) and 4x100-meter relay (41.89). Academically, the Cougars continued to excel, producing dozens of NSIC All-Academic honorees, Team of Excellence selections, and Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction recipients.
During the 2025 cross country season, Chilson led the men to a seventh-place finish and the women to an eighth-place finish at the NSIC Championships before both teams concluded their seasons at the NCAA Central Region Championships. The Cougars also continued their academic success with numerous NSIC All-Academic and Team of Excellence selections, while Parker Hahn earned NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction recognition.
In 2024-25, Chilson's programs produced two NCAA All-Americans in Emily Swanson and Tyler Hiatt while generating 22 NSIC All-Conference performances across cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field. The men's cross country team placed fifth and the women's team finished sixth at the NSIC Championships, highlighted by First Team All-Conference honors for Micade Shumway and Second Team honors for Maddie Swanson and Ben Morrison. In the classroom, the Cougars continued their tradition of academic excellence, earning numerous D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards, NSIC All-Academic honors, CorTrust Scholar-Athlete recognitions, and Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction awards.
In his first season as head coach in 2023-24, Chilson led the men to a fifth-place finish and the women to a sixth-place finish at the NSIC Cross Country Championships. Four Cougar runners earned All-Conference recognition, led by First Team performer Khot Juac. On the track, the Cougars accumulated 17 NSIC All-Conference performances, established several school records, and achieved NCAA provisional marks from multiple student-athletes. The programs also maintained their strong academic standing with dozens of NSIC All-Academic and Team of Excellence selections.
Chilson joined USF after spending the 2016-18 seasons at Southwest Minnesota State, where he coached sprinters and hurdlers and helped produce 10 school records and 21 All-NSIC performances.
In the fall of 2015, Chilson coached indoor track and field at Black Hills State, working with sprinters and hurdlers. He also coached outdoor track at Spearfish High School in the spring of 2016 and helped the Spartans establish a school record in the 4x400-meter relay while finishing third at the South Dakota State Meet.
Prior to his coaching career, Chilson was a four-year letterwinner at Black Hills State University, competing in both hurdles and sprints. He was a two-time conference All-Academic honoree and a two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference placer in the 110-meter hurdles.
Originally from Highmore, South Dakota, Chilson earned his bachelor's degree in exercise science from Black Hills State in 2015 and completed his master's degree from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2018.
Professional Development Certifications
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA)
- USTFCCCA Technical Certification
- USTFCCCA Test and Measures Master's Endorsement
- USTFCCCA Weight Training Master's Endorsement
- USTFCCCA Combined Event Specialist
USF Records and Accomplishments
- Seven NCAA All-America performances as head coach
- More than 30 NSIC All-Conference performances as head coach
- Two NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year recipients
- Two NSIC Elite 18 Award winners
- Numerous NCAA provisional qualifying marks
- Multiple school records across cross country and track & field
- Hundreds of NSIC All-Academic and Team of Excellence selections
- Multiple Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honorees
- Multiple D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipients
- Numerous NSIC and USF Athlete of the Week selections
