Deserea Howard joined the SIUE track and field staff as an assistant coach in 2013, focusing on the Cougars' sprinters and hurdlers.
Previously, she worked as an events administrator in the SIUE athletic department from 2012-2013. Her duties include managing ticketing, guest relations, and concession stands at SIUE Intercollegiate events.
Howard was a 16-time All-American and two-time national champion for the SIUE women’s track and field team. She focused on the 400-meter hurdles as well as the 400-meter dash. She earned the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s Athlete of the Year five times. Howard later competed for the University of Illinois where she was awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, Illini Newcomer of the Year, and the Illinois/Big Ten Leadership Merit. Along with her final All-American trophy at Illinois, she totaled 17 awards overall.
Howard worked to the highest levels of competition where she was a semifinalist for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 as well as a World Championships trials finalist.
After completing her collegiate career, Howard moved on to the professional level in athletics. She was ranked in the top 20 in the U.S. for three years (2008-2010) in the 400-meter hurdles. Her travels included competitions on the European Circuit in Finland, Italy, France, Switzerland, and Belgium in 2010.
She then turned to passing on her running knowledge to young runners. She worked as an assistant track and field coach at Urbana High School in 2009, as a volunteer assistant at SIU Carbondale, and most recently as an assistant at Edwardsville High School where the girl's team won the 2012 IHSA 3A State Championship under her tutelage.
Her experience also includes being an administrator for the Olympic Journey Track Club in 2009 as well as Dynamic Fitness Management in Granite City, and Fitness With Anika in Clayton, Mo.
Howard earned a bachelor’s degree from Illinois in kinesiology and sports management in 2010. She is pursuing a master’s in kinesiology - sport and exercise behavior at SIUE, and plans to graduate in May 2014.
Formerly Deserea Brown, she was married to Donte Howard in August.
