BROWNWOOD, Texas – Howard Payne University Director of Athletics Adam Bright has announced the hiring of Erick Jiménez as the head coach of the Yellow Jackets Women's Flag Football program, marking another significant milestone as HPU prepares to launch its newest varsity sport.

Jiménez returns to Howard Payne with a diverse background in coaching, higher education, athletic performance, sports medicine, and ministry, bringing nearly a decade of coaching experience in tackle and flag football, seven seasons as a competitive flag football player, and almost 20 years of pastoral leadership.

His return to Brownwood is a full-circle moment. From 2012-15, Jiménez helped establish Howard Payne's El Paso Center as its first admissions counselor while also supporting academic advising and student retention efforts. Most recently, he served as a Student Support Specialist at Adrian College in Michigan, where he partnered with coaches and faculty to promote student-athlete success through the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services program.

"We couldn't be more excited to welcome Erick and his family back home to Howard Payne," said Director of Athletics Adam Bright. "He already understands what makes this university so special because he has lived it. Erick is genuinely excited to be a Yellow Jacket, and his passion for investing in young people is evident in everything he does. As we launch our women's flag football program, we wanted someone committed to building something that will thrive for years to come—not just on the field, but in the lives of our student-athletes. Erick is exactly that leader, and we're excited to watch him build this program the right way."

Jiménez's coaching résumé includes launching football programs from the ground up, most notably serving as the inaugural varsity head coach for the El Paso Christian Homeschool Panthers six-man football program. He has also coached with the Texas Homeschool Education Sports Association (THESA) Riders, Upward Sports, Baptist Student Ministries at UTEP, recreational flag football organizations, and most recently Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, Michigan.

A native of El Paso, Jiménez played football at Franklin High School before continuing his career at Golden West College in California, where he earned Special Teams Captain honors and was named the program's Rustler of the Year. Following his collegiate playing career, he spent seven seasons competing in high-level flag football while gaining experience at nearly every position on the field, providing firsthand knowledge of one of the nation's fastest-growing collegiate sports.

Beyond athletics, Jiménez has devoted nearly two decades to pastoral ministry, including more than ten years serving as a football chaplain alongside the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at UTEP Athletics. His passion for mentoring student-athletes spiritually, academically, and personally has shaped his approach to leadership.

"My vision for Howard Payne Women's Flag Football is to build a program that reflects Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission, in everything we do," Jiménez said. "Our goal is to pursue competitive excellence while making disciples of Jesus Christ. We want to develop young women who love the Lord, serve others, compete with excellence, and leave Howard Payne prepared to make an impact in their families, churches, workplaces, and communities. Championships are important, but our greatest victory will always be seeing lives transformed for Christ."

Jiménez earned a Bachelor of Multidisciplinary Studies from The University of Texas at El Paso, and both a Master of Theological Studies and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Jiménez and his wife, Jordan, are the proud parents of four children: Logan, Leyton, Loren, and Lorelai.