Erik Highsmith is entering his second season with the North Carolina Central University football program for the 2025 campaign, where he will serve as wide receivers coach.
Two wideouts (Joaquin Davis and Markell Quick), and one tight end in Luke Bracey, earned All-MEAC honors in Highsmith's first season in 2024. Quick ranked third in the MEAC in receiving, averaging nearly 53 receiving yards a game, while Davis was also a top-10 receiver in the league. The Eagles were second in the MEAC in passing offense in 2024, going for more than 204 yards a game through the air.
Highsmith came to Durham after spending the 2023 season as an offensive analyst at Michigan State University. He served in the same capacity at the University of Maryland in 2022, as the Terrapins ranked among the Big Ten leaders in passing offense (third with 259.8 ypg), total offense (fourth with 401.2 ypg) and scoring offense (fifth with 28.2 ppg) while winning eight games, including the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over N.C. State.
He spent the 2021 season at Central State serving as the program’s offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and associate head coach.
Highsmith was previously at Virginia University-Lynchburg for three years as the Dragons’ offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He developed an offensive attack that set a variety of school records and also coached the team’s kick return unit, which had six touchdown returns in 2018.
Prior to his arrival at VUL, Highsmith was the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Overhills High School in Spring Lake, N.C. While serving on the coaching staff, Highsmith helped Overhills to its best overall record in school history and the school’s first high school playoff appearance in over a decade. Highsmith’s high-powered offense totaled over 6,000 yards of total offense while competing in North Carolina’s 4A Mid-South Athletic Conference.
Highsmith has also served as an assistant coach in the annual Division II National Bowl in Daytona Beach, Fla. – an annual postseason college football all-star game consisting of top players from non-FBS schools.
Originally from Vanceboro, N.C., Highsmith attended West Craven High School, where he earned all-state honors as a receiver while leading the Eagles to the 2008 3A state championship game. Highsmith led the state in receiving yards as a senior while solidifying himself among the elite players in North Carolina.
The 6-3 receiver accepted a scholarship offer to play at the University of North Carolina. A four-year letterwinner at UNC from 2009-12, Highsmith ranks among the all-time Tar Heel leaders in receptions (sixth with 167), receiving yards (tied for 10th with 2,086 yards) and TD catches (tied for 11th with 15).
After graduating from UNC in 2013 with a degree in sport management, Highsmith signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. Following his stint with the Vikings, Highsmith served two years in the U.S. Army as a battalion intelligence analyst before his football coaching career.
He is married to Jazmine Highsmith.
