JACKSON, Miss. – The Millsaps College men's and women's golf programs are excited to announce
Erica Payton as their new assistant coach, announced by the Millsaps College Department of Athletics on Friday.
A decorated student-athlete with local ties, Payton was inducted into the Jackson State University Sports Hall of Fame in the Class of 2023 after excelling during her collegiate career. She carded the lowest college round with a 75 at the 2009 NCAA Regional. She was also a three-time Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship winner with the Tigers in 2009, 2010 and 2012.
She is the daughter of Eddie Payton, who served as the men's and women's golf coach at JSU from 1986 to 2016. Additionally, Payton is the niece of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton.
Payton also has been involved with Swing Studio JXN since 2024, where she has served as both the owner and instructor. She is a passionate and committed golf coach there with experience teaching players of various skill levels. She delivered personalized instructions tailored to the unique needs of each student, fostering skill development, technique improvement, and enhanced understanding of golf strategies.
The career journey saw Payton build an extensive background in educational leadership and project management as well. Her previous titles included post-award grants manager at The Kirkland Group (2023-24), community support coordinator at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy (2018-23) and Director of Athletics at Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy (2015-18).
Payton earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Jackson State University in May 2013, and she went on to obtain her Master of Science in Sports Management with JSU in May 2015. She is also a member of the Junior League of Jackson and was a Chapter President for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at JSU.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Millsaps College men's and women's golf programs, follow the Majors on Twitter and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook, or visit gomajors.com.
Founded in Jackson, Mississippi in 1890, Millsaps College is a national liberal arts college dedicated to academic excellence, open inquiry and free expression, the exploration of faith to inform vocation, and the innovative shaping of the social, economic and cultural progress of our region. Consistently ranked as one of the best values in higher education, Millsaps has been praised by Colleges That Change Lives, The Princeton Review, Forbes Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, The John Templeton Foundation, and The Fiske Guide to Colleges.
