In 2019, Eric Atkins joined the Howard University men’s basketball program as an assistant coach under Kenneth Blakeney.
In his first season, he coached Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) All-Time Leading Scorer Charles Williams where he earned All-MEAC honors. He also witnessed Wayne Bristol, Jr. winning 2019-20 MEAC Rookie of the Year.
Before arriving at Howard, Atkins served as a Video Coordinator at the University of Notre Dame. During his tenure, he helped with the day-to-day oversight of the program, breaks down game film for the coaching staff and aides the administration of the Notre Dame Boys Basketball Camps during the summer.
A 2014 Notre Dame graduate, three-time Irish captain and all-ACC selection, Atkins was one of the most prolific point guards in Notre Dame men’s basketball history. He concluded his career as the fifth Irish player to score 1,000 points (1,421) and post 500 assists (589). An iron man on the court, Atkins appeared in 133 contests (tied for second all-time) and started 105 (ninth all-time) – including 97 consecutive games in the starting five.
Leading the Irish into their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013-14, he was the first Notre Dame player to earn an ACC Player of the Week award and is still the only Irish player to earn that designation in back-to-back weeks (Dec. 30, 2013, and Jan. 6, 2014). He was named a third-team all-ACC selection by the league’s coaches after averaging 13.0 ppg and 4.0 apg.
Atkins’ professional basketball career started in Greece, when he played 26 games for KAOD in 2014-15, averaging 7.0 ppg and 2.0 apg. He joined the Erie Bay Hawks in the NBA D-League for the 2015-16 season, playing in 24 games, averaging 6.5 ppg and 3.0 apg. Atkins also spent time on the Utah Jazz roster and the Idaho Stampede in the D-League during 2015.
He played his prep career at Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Md. where he was a two-time Baltimore Catholic League MVP.
