HOMETOWN: Kent, Ohio
BIRTHDATE: November 13, 1970
EDUCATION: B.A., Youngstown State, 1995
COACHING: Assistant Coach, Akron, 1996-97
Assistant Coach, Boston College, 1998
Assistant Coach, Tiffin, 1999
Assistant Coach, Youngstown State, 2000-02
Assistant Coach, Ball State, 2003-04
Assistant Head Coach, Kentucky State, 2005-07
Head Coach, Lane, 2008-09
Assistant Coach, Lambuth, 2010
Assistant Coach, Wayne State (Mich.), 2011
Assistant Coach, Akron, 2012-2018
Assistant Coach, Hampton, 2020-24
Head Coach, Hampton, 2024-present
A veteran of nearly 30 years in the coaching profession, including five years on the Hampton staff, Trenton Boykin is in his second season as head coach of the Pirates.
After serving as Hampton’s running backs and special teams coach, Boykin was elevated to interim head coach prior to the start of the 2024 campaign. On Oct. 15, 2024, Director of Athletics Anthony D. Henderson Sr. removed the interim tag and Boykin officially became the 22nd head coach in university history.
In 2024, the Pirates excelled on both sides of the ball. The offense increased its scoring output from 23.3 points per game to 29.6, an increase of 6.3. The Pirate running game ranked second in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) in rushing, averaging 195.8 yards per game with 32 touchdowns. Defensively, Hampton led the CAA in total defense yielding 317.7 yards per game, placing them 22nd nationally in the FCS. The Pirate pass defense was tops in the CAA with just 167.8 yards per game and the team had 19 takeaways with 32 sacks.
Boykin brings a wealth of experience to the position. He served 10 seasons on the FBS level with stops at Akron, Boston College, and Ball State. In addition, he served as head coach at Lane for two seasons.
Prior to his time at Hampton, Boykin was on the staff at Akron from 2012-18. He spent a season as running backs coach at Wayne State (Mich.) helping lead the Warriors to a 12-win season and a berth in the Division II national championship.
Boykin served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Lambuth (Tenn.) in 2010 after two seasons (2008-09) as the head coach at Lane (Tenn.). From 2005-07, he worked as the assistant head coach at Kentucky State.
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.
He coached 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.
Boykin graduated from Youngstown State in 1995 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication.
He played for legendary coach Jim Tressel and helped lead Youngstown State to I-AA national titles in 1991, 1993, and 1994. A standout receiver, Boykin’s 150 career receptions rank him second on the Penguin’s all-time list and his 1,950 career receiving yards are seventh best. In 1994, he was named the team’s most outstanding offensive player.
In 2006, he was inducted onto the Kent Roosevelt High School Hall of Fame.
He is the father of two daughters: Elivia and Brittney, and a son, Jaz. Jaz transferred to Hampton after a year at Indiana where he was a defensive back. Boykin also has three grandchildren.
