Birmingham, AL. – University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff head women's basketball coach Erica Leak has been selected to serve as the new Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball Chairperson following a vote by the conference's women's basketball head coaches.

Leak's selection adds another leadership role to an accomplished basketball career while giving UAPB representation in a key conference position. "We are extremely proud of Coach Leak and congratulate her on being selected as the SWAC Women's Basketball Chairperson," said UAPB Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Robinson. "Her experience as a student-athlete, coach and leader makes her a tremendous representative for our institution and the conference. We appreciate her willingness to serve and look forward to the impact she will make in this role."

"I am truly honored and humbled to be elected by my colleagues to serve as the SWAC Women's Basketball Head Coaches Chairperson," Leak said. "Thank you to each of my colleagues for your trust, your confidence and your vote. I do not take this responsibility lightly. "I look forward to serving as a strong liaison between our head coaches and the SWAC, ensuring that our collective voices, ideas, concerns and vision are communicated and represented."

Leak is entering her third season at the helm of the Golden Lions. During the 2025-26 campaign, UAPB finished 15-16 overall and 10-8 in SWAC play while advancing to the semifinals of the SWAC Tournament.

Under Leak's leadership, Indiya Bowen was named SWAC Newcomer of the Year and earned First Team All-SWAC honors after leading the conference with 462 total points and averaging 14.9 points per game.

Leak was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and was selected to the 2025 Louisiana Tech Women's Basketball All-Quarter-Century Team. A former standout at Louisiana Tech, Leak was a four-time Western Athletic Conference champion, WAC Freshman of the Year and four-time NCAA Tournament participant. She was selected 19th overall by the Washington Mystics in the first round of the 2005 WNBA Draft.

Before taking over the Golden Lions program, Leak led West Memphis High School to four consecutive state tournament appearances and the program's first state championship game appearance in two decades. She was named the 2023 Arkansas High School Coach of the Year.

A Palestine-Wheatley High School standout, Leak was the 2001 Gatorade Arkansas Player of the Year, a Parade All-American, MVP of the Arkansas High School All-Star Game and a state champion. She was also a member of the 2000 USA Women's U19 National Team qualifying squad.

Leak earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana Tech in 2005 and a Master of Arts in Athletic Administration from Concordia University in 2023.