Brent Wilkerson recently completed his fourth season as the Allegheny head men’s and women’s track and field and cross country coach. Over his past four years, he has led the Gator men’s cross country team to a pair of North Coast Athletic Conference championships, with the team qualifying for the NCAA championship each year. He has presided over Allegheny’s most recent NCAA National Championship, as the men’s distance medley relay team won gold at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships, while his athletes have won a total of nine All-America honors, with 2012 grad Lauren Butler and 2014 grad Bobby Over each earning multiple All-America laurels. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Wilkerson was a four-year track and field standout at Wilmington College, where he earned a total of 15 All-Ohio Athletic Conference accolades and a pair of All-America nods, anchoring the Quakers’ 4x400 relay.
What is your fondest memory as a student-athlete?
Breaking Wilmington’s record at the National Championship, while earning my first All-America honor.
What is your fondest memory so far during your coaching career?
In my first year, when we won the NCAA distance medley championship with the team of Mike Vlah, Taylor Throckmorton, Andrew Mahone, and Tony Dipre.
What brought you to Allegheny?
Bill Ross’ reputation as a winner, and his teams’ enthusiasm for competition. I knew he had the environment I wanted to learn from and achieve.
If you could coach another sport for one day, what would it be?
Volleyball! I love the fast pace and athleticism of the players. It is also a sport in which you can be more hands-on during matches by calling plays and substitutions. It would be drastically difference from cross country and track and field.
Do you have any pre-meet routines?
Not anymore. However, as an athlete, I used to be very superstitious. Even now, I have the tendency to wear the same thing to meets consecutively if we are competing well as a team.
Favorite road trip movie?
Moneyball. Our men’s team would definitely say Semi-Pro.
Least favorite road trip movie?
Semi-Pro. Our men’s team loves it because our women’s team hates it.
Favorite band/music artist?
Too many to choose! On my playlist right now is a lot of Drake, Childish Gambino, and Common.
What would be your pump-up pre-competition song?
“The Man” by Aloe Blacc.
Favorite television show?
Game of Thrones.
Favorite professional sports team?
The Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.
Favorite athlete?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee for the ladies, and Michael Johnson for the men. The GOAT!
Favorite book?
“The Alchemist” by Pauolo Coelho.
Dream vacation?
Backpacking through Europe.
You can choose three dinner guests- who would they be?
Abraham Lincoln, Neal DeGrasse Tyson, and Jesse Owens.
You can choose one historical sporting event to go back in time and attend – what would it be?
Watching Sir Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile for the first time in human history.
Top item on your bucket list?
I’m not a list guy. My life rocks already!
Describe Allegheny in three words or less?
Traditions still exist.
Who has been your biggest influence during your coaching career?
Bill Ross.
What is the top piece of advice you would give to an incoming freshman student-athlete?
Don’t involve yourself in too much. Find the two or three things that you can invest your passion in first. Enjoy the trivial things once you set a good base.
What is the top piece of advice you’d give to someone planning to enter the coaching field?
Change some of what you do every season. It will open the doors to change, and keep things fresh. Burnout is very easy in our profession.
