Eric Skeeters was hired to the position of the assistant coach with the University of South Florida men’s basketball program and will begin his first season on the Bulls' bench during the 2009-10 campaign.

“Eric and I hit it off well. He fit the profile I was looking for in recruiting, skill development and player relations,” said head coach Stan Heath. “Eric’s a great fit for USF basketball, and I expect him to make an immediate impact on our program.”

Skeeters, who arrived at USF after spending five seasons as an assistant at Towson, is ready for the challenge to lead the Bulls in the toughest basketball conference in the country.

“It is a phenomenal opportunity to coach in the BIG EAST and with Stan Heath, who has been a good friend and someone I have followed closely since his days at Michigan State,” said Skeeters. “BIG EAST basketball is the best in America, and I am ready to work side-by-side with coach Heath and the staff to make great things happen at USF and within the BIG EAST.”

A Baltimore native, Skeeters was the first hire of Towson head coach Pat Kennedy when he arrived prior to the 2004-05 season. 

“I have to thank everyone at Towson, including Coach Kennedy and the administration, for their support and mentorship during my five seasons with the program,” said Skeeters.

"Skeets" came to Towson from Virginia Tech, where he was an assistant under former USF head coach Seth Greenberg for the 2003-04 season, when the Hokies enjoyed their first winning record (15-14) in four years during their last year in the BIG EAST.

He left the Blacksburg, Va., school just as it finished recruiting for its first ACC season. The Hokies’ incoming class that year was rated 23rd by Rivals Hoop. Skeets’ top recruit, Deron Washington, was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team the season after Skeets left in 2004-05.

Skeets arrived at Virginia Tech after spending four years at Youngstown State, where he made immediate contributions to the Penguins' recruiting. Skeets' efforts were instrumental in the signing of Meade High School's Doug Underwood, who was named to the Horizon League All-Rookie Team and then later garnered first-team All-Horizon League accolades.

From 1996-99, Skeets served three seasons as an assistant coach to Ron "Fang" Mitchell at Coppin State. With the Eagles, Skeets assisted in all areas of the team's operations and served as Coppin State's chief recruiter.

While at Coppin State, Skeets' coaching leadership helped the Eagles to a three-year record of 58-30 and three Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference regular-season championships. In 1997, Coppin State earned a bid to the NCAA tournament, where the No. 15-seed Eagles scored a huge upset, beating second-seeded South Carolina, 78-65.

A 1986 graduate of Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Skeets got his start as the junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy from 1992-96 under coach William Wells. While there, he mentored Mark Karcher, a former standout at Temple who was a 1997 USA TODAY first-team All-American, a McDonald’s All-American and a two-time Baltimore Sun Player of the Year.

In Skeets’ final season at St. Frances, the team posted a 30-4 record and finished the season ranked 14th nationally in the USA TODAY final poll. Skeets influence at St. Frances reached beyond the court, as the ball boy for the Panthers that year was Carmelo Anthony, the 2003 Big East Rookie of the Year and the third pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. To this day, Anthony and Skeets have maintained a close relationship with one another.

In 1994 Skeets directed another of his squad's, Baltimore’s Best, to a 56-team tournament championship at the Midwest Future Showdown & Shootout in Columbus, Ohio, defeating defending champion New York Riverside, 65-59, for the title. Members of Baltimore’s Best included Shawnta Rogers of Lake Clifton, Alphonso Jones of Douglass, Guy Butler of Woodlawn, Tommy Polley of Dunbar (a former linebacker with the St. Louis Rams and Baltimore Ravens), Colin Jones of Patterson and Marvis Thornton of Dunbar plus the St. Frances Academy contingent of Karcher, Keon Chavez, Greg Billups and Tavares Graham.

Skeets was awarded a bachelor’s in management science from Coppin State in 1997. He earned an associate’s degree in 1991 from Catonsville Community College, where he played lacrosse and basketball for two seasons, leading his region in assists in 1990.

A standout point guard in basketball and a midfielder in lacrosse at Woodlawn High, Skeets earned all-county honors in lacrosse during his playing days. He competed in both basketball and lacrosse throughout his athletic career that began as a youngster at St. Mark’s School in the Catonsville Midget League. A knee injury suffered at Catonsville C.C. eventually ended his collegiate career.

Eric and his wife, Marie, a University of Maryland graduate, have two sons, Evan and Miles.