Erik Vance enters his eighth season as the head coach of the South Plains College track and field program.

During the 2023 season, Vance led South Plains to both the NJCAA Indoor and Outdoor national titles. At the indoor national meet, South Plains' Jeremy Bembridge, Hossam Hatib, Evaldo Whitehorne, and Kimar Farquharson posted a new facility record of 3:06.93 to win gold in the men's 4x400, notch 10 points, and earn a share of the men's indoor national crown with 107 points. The Texans would find themselves in a similar position heading into the final race of the outdoor national meet, as the men's 4x400 relay team comprised of Jeremy Bembridge, Evaldo Whitehorne, Gregory Prince, and Kimar Farquharson ran away from the field, posting a blistering 3:03.31 to pick up 10 points to earn a share of the national crown, as South Plains and New Mexico Junior College each capped the meet with 100 points.

During the 2022 season, Vance led South Plains to both the NJCAA Men's Indoor and Outdoor national titles. Following the indoor season, Vance was tabbed the USTFCCCA National Men's Coach of the Year, as well as the Men's West Region Coach of the Year. The Texans ran away with the indoor title in Pittsburg, KS, amassing 140 points, some 78 points greater than second-place finished Barton County. Capturing the program's second consecutive outdoor national crown in Hutchinson, KS, Vance was tabbed the National Men's Coach of the Year, as well as the West Region Men's Coach of the Year. This marks Vance's third men's outdoor title, leading SPC to the men's outdoor title in 2017, and again in 2021 and 2022.

During the 2021 season, Vance led South Plains to one of the most dominant years in program history, bringing three national championships to Levelland. SPC captured the 2021 NJCAA Men's Indoor National Championship trophy, amassing 138 points at the national meet in Pittsburg, Kansas. The Lady Texans proved to be one of the top indoor programs that same season, earning national runner-up honors. Following the meet, Vance was named the Men's Indoor National Coach of the Year.

The Texans and Lady Texans continued their run during the '21 outdoor campaign. Competing on their home track in Levelland, the Texans earned a share of the 2021 NJCAA men's outdoor national title, while the Lady Texans brought home the women's outdoor championship. For his efforts, Vance was tabbed the Women's Outdoor National Coach of the Year. 

During the 2018 season, Vance led the Texans to their first men's indoor title since the 2015 season. Competing at the Texas Tech Sports Performance Center, SPC trailed Barton County by two points entering the final race. SPC would go on to take second in the men's 4x400, two spots ahead of Barton County, winning the title with 94 team points. Leading SPC to its sixth men's indoor title at the time, Vance was slated as the Men's Indoor National Coach of the Year. 

In his first season leading the program during the 2017 season, Vance continued the Texans' reign of perfection when he guided the Texans to their 11th consecutive NJCAA Men's Outdoor National Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. For his efforts, Vance was named the Men's Outdoor National Coach of the Year. 

Vance served as an assistant coach for South Plains during the 2015-16 season, playing a crucial role in helping the Texans capture their 10^th consecutive NJCAA Outdoor title.

Vance has been named the West Region Head Coach of the Year eight times during his tenure at South Plains College. 

Before coming to Levelland, Vance had a successful stint at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. In five years there, Vance coached the horizontal and vertical jumpers, as well as the multi-event athletes.

His success as a coach is proven by the performances of his athletes. At ULM, he coached four Sun Belt Conference champions, which included the 2015 Indoor heptathlon and Outdoor decathlon school-record holder, Isaac Grieder. Grieder holds the Sun Belt Championship record of 7,301 points for his performance in the decathlon as well. He also guided Corey Wesley, a Warhawk long and triple jumper, to a jump of 25 feet, 10 inches in the long jump in 2014. During his five years at ULM, he coached 10 athletes to the NCAA East preliminaries and had more than 15 Sun Belt All-Conference performers.

Before his time at ULM, Vance was a part of the coaching staff at Louisiana State University as a graduate assistant, coaching the horizontal and vertical jumpers. While there, he received his master’s degree in Kinesiology, graduating in 2010. He came to LSU upon his graduation from Baylor University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Science Studies in 2008. During his four years, Vance was a fighting Baylor Bear track and field athlete. He competed in pole vault, and was a four-time Commissioner’s Honor Roll selection, and named to the All-Big 12 Academic team in 2008.  

A Panhandle, Texas native, Vance was familiar with South Plains College, and as a Division I track coach, well aware of the success that SPC has achieved.

“It is an absolute honor to be able to head up a program with as much prestige as South Plains College,” Vance said. “The tradition here is incredible, and to be able to be the head coach and follow in the footsteps of coaches like Chris Beene, Lance Bingham, James Morris, and Clint Ramsey is humbling. I want to thank everyone I have encountered here for welcoming me to the South Plains College family. I have enjoyed my first year here immensely, and look forward to many more. Specifically, I want to thank coach Joe Tubb for giving me the opportunity at South Plains, and for having the faith in me to give me control of a program with such a prestigious history of success.”