When Hampton announced that Robert Prunty was out as its head coach on Tuesday, running backs and special teams coach Trent Boykin was elevated to interim head coach for the 2024 season. It’s not the first time that Boykin has led a football team, he’s a previous HBCU head coach.
Boykin spent five years in the SIAC, he was assistant head coach at Kentucky State from 2005-07, before taking over as head coach at Lane College from 2008-09. In 2008 Lane finished 4-7 before going 0-10 in 2009. The Dragons were 7-3 in the year prior to Boykin’s arrival and finished 0-10 in 2010, a year after his departure.
Trent Boykin was a standout wide receiver at Youngstown State in the early 1990s. He played for coach Jim Tressel and helped lead the Penguins to I-AA national titles in 1991, 1993, and 1994.
During his three seasons as assistant head coach at Kentucky State the Thorobreds finished 17-16, with its best season coming in 2006 when KSU went 7-4.
Boykin began his coaching career at Akron in 1996 as an offensive graduate assistant. He spent two years on the staff before moving to Boston College in 1998 as an offensive graduate assistant before coaching receivers at Tiffin in 1999. For three years, he worked at his alma mater, Youngstown State, as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator. From 2003-04, he coached at Ball State where he oversaw special teams and running backs.
After his stint in the SIAC Boykin served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lambuth (Tenn.) in 2010. The next season he spent a year as running backs coach at Wayne State (Mich.). He helped lead the Warriors to a 12-win season and an appearance in the 2011 Division II national championship game.
Trent Boykin joined the Pirate staff in 2020 after serving as running game coordinator at Akron of the Mid-American Conference from 2012-18.
Since coming to Hampton University the Pirates running game has developed into the top unit in the CAA. In 2023, the Pirate ground game averaged a league-best 216.4 yards per contest. Elijah Burris rushed for 803 yards (14.7 yards per game) with eight touchdowns. Darran Burris rambled for 670 yards (74.4 ypg) with four scores giving Hampton one of the the top one-two punches in the league.
Coaching Resume
Assistant, Akron, 1996-97
Assistant, Boston College, 1998
Assistant, Tiffin, 1999
Assistant, Youngstown State, 2000-02
Assistant, Ball State, 2003-04
Assistant Head Coach, Kentucky State, 2005-07
Head Coach, Lane, 2008-09
Assistant, Lambuth, 2010
Assistant, Wayne State (Mich.), 2011
Assistant, Akron, 2012-2018
Assistant, Hampton, 2020-24
Interim Head Coach, Hampton, 2024-present