Delaware State University Director of Athletics Dr. Scott Gines announced the appointment of
Eric Kirouac (KEER-ooh-ack) as head coach of the university's new women's triathlon team on Mar. 25, 2021. The team is slated to begin competition in the fall of 2021.
DSU announced in April 2020 it was joining the growing trend of adding women's triathlon to its list of intercollegiate sports, becoming the first Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and second Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to sponsor the sport. Triathlon was approved in January 2014 as the latest NCAA Emerging Sport for Women for NCAA Division I, II and III institutions. Races are sprint distance, featuring an open water 750-meter swim, draft legal 20-kilometer cycling and a 5-kilometer run.
Kirouac brought extensive triathlon experience to the Delaware State position. He is currently the owner and operator of TST Perform LLC, which specializes in training and developing endurance athletes. This includes coaching athletes to USA Triathlon pro license qualifications, among many other athletic accomplishments. He launched the business as a sophomore at Marymount University in Virginia.
Kirouac holds a pro license in cross country mountain biking and has coached multiple cyclists to high levels of success
in all disciplines, including road, mountain bike, and cyclocross.
First introduced to the sport as a pre-teen, he raced on the USAT junior elite circuit before being recruited and participating in draft legal triathlon and cross country at Marymount.
After Marymount dropped its men's triathlon program after his sophomore year, Kirouac transferred to Queens University in Charlotte, N.C., and continued racing while also building his coaching business and brand. His triathlon head coach at Queens, Sonni Dyer, has won more NCAA Triathlon National Championships than any other head coach or university.
Kirouac holds a degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Queens, and holds coaching licenses from USA Cycling (Level 2), USA Triathlon (Level 1), American Swim Coaches Association (Level 1), and Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association certificate.
Following graduation, Kirouac landed a job in Thailand at British International School Phuket, where he was an age group squad swim coach, masters swim coach, and assistant coach of high performance triathlon and developmental triathlon.
"I am excited to begin building the triathlon program at DSU to be ready for competition this fall," said Kirouac. "I am committed to working with the DSU administration and staff to develop successful student-athletes in the classroom, community, and in the sport of triathlon."
Gines said Kirouac stood out among a solid list of candidates for the position.
"Eric is internationally recognized as a leading coach and trainer of high performing athletes in multiple sports," he said. "His knowledge and passion, along with an impressive vision for building our new program made him a clear choice for the position."
