After rejoining Howard University in 2017, Cousins enters her second stint as Associate Head Coach focusing on the long sprints and relays.
During the 2024-25 outdoor season, the women's team won to its fourth straight conference title. Howard sent a program-best 24 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with 12 student-athletes punching their tickets to the NCAA Championship Round.Six Bison received All-American status.
During the 2024-25 indoor season, Cousins helped the women's squad to its fourth consecutive league championship.
During the 2023-24 outdoor season, Howard sent 21 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with six student-athletes making the NCAA Championship Round. On the women's side, Cousins guided the team to its third straight conference title.
Cousins guided the women's squad to its third consecutive MEAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship after the 2023-24 indoor season.
During the 2022-23 campaign, the women's program won back-to-back MEAC titles with eight victories. At the NCAA East Regional Preliminary Round, the Bison had seven entries in Jacksonville with three punching their tickets to Austin for the Outdoor Championships. The 4x400 relay squad earned All-American status.
During the 2022-23 indoor season, Cousins helped the Bison to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Title.
Although the 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the program had success during indoor seasons. The 4x400 relay squad of Oluchi Ike, Jessika Gbai, Ozioma Scott and Dasia Wilson claimed second overall while earning All-MEAC honors. The program also saw 24 Bison named to the MEAC Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Team.
In the 2019 outdoor season, Howard's 4x400 relay squad of Sydney Benson, Jessika Gbai, Oluchi Ike, and Ozioma Scott qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round. That team also earned All-MEAC honors at the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Benson, Destiny Stanford, Melanie White, and Jessica Wright represented Howard in the Distance Medley Relay where they received All-MEAC recognition at the 2019 MEAC Indoor Championships. Academically, both squads received 2018-19 U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic honors.
During the 2017-18 season, student-athletes under Cousins’ leadership earned All-MEAC honors and posted several personal best.
After her first stint at Howard, Cousins moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she served as the assistant coach for both the Men and Women’s track and field program. She was named the 2016 Division II South Region Assistant Coach of the year. She had athletes under her direction who were Peach Belt champions in the 100h, 400h, 400m, 100m and relays. She served two seasons at Nova Southeastern University before returning to Howard in September 2017.
Prior to Nova, Coach Cousins served as the Assistant Coach for both Men’s and Women’s Track here at Howard. Cousins coached the sprints and hurdles during this time. She coached several All-MEAC performers.
Prior to arriving to Howard, Coach Cousins ran professionally for five years and was a two-time member of the USA national team to compete at the World Indoor Championships in 2010 and 2012.
Jessica currently resides in Greenbelt, MD and graduated from the University of Arkansas with her B.A. in Social Work. She holds USATF Level 1 coaching certification in sprints, hurdles and relays.
