Wednesday, March 25, 1998
BLACKSTOCK LEADS UNION WOMEN TO CHAMPIONSHIP
Jackson, TN--With David Blackstock at the helm, the Â鶹ÊÓƵ University Lady Bulldog basketball team finally accomplished what no other team has before, the capturing of the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship title. On Tuesday night in the 1998 Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tennessee, a crowd of 5,500 watched the Lady Bulldogs defeat four-time defending champion Southern Nazarene University 73-70 to capture their first national title.
This was the third time that head coach David Blackstock has led Â鶹ÊÓƵ to the championship game, however the Lady Bulldogs fell short of capturing the title in both 1993 and 1997. Blackstock, 478-84 in 16 seasons with the Lady Bulldogs, has the best winning percentage if any active NAIA coach (.850). In addition to the championship trophy awarded to the team, Blackstock was rewarded with his first-ever national coach of the year award as well.
Blackstock, who will be co-head coach next season with Lisa Hutchens, will step down at the conclusion of the 1999 season from coaching duties but remain athletic director and as a member of the Â鶹ÊÓƵ faculty. Blackstock helped lead a Â鶹ÊÓƵ team with no upper classman this season to a national title. When asked about his stepping down, Blackstock stated, "I love the kids and I love coaching. But the long nights and recruiting I won't miss."
Few can argue the accomplishments Blackstock has made at the helm of the women's basketball program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. In his 16 seasons, he has never lost more than 10 basketball games in one season. During his campaign, he has been to the NAIA Women's National Championship for seven consecutive seasons, his tenth in 11 seasons. He has been to the NAIA District 24 Finals 11 times, capturing five district crowns. He has 11 conference championships, the most recent coming this season when the Lady Bulldogs held off Freed-Hardeman University for their second consecutive TranSouth Conference title. In the 11 years the TCAC (Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference) existed, Â鶹ÊÓƵ captured eight conference titles and Blackstock complied a 165-19 TCAC career record. Because of his accomplishments, Blackstock will be inducted into the Jackson Madison County Sports Hall of Fame this April.
Blackstock began his campaign at Â鶹ÊÓƵ as a baseball player in 1960 where he helped lead the Bulldogs to the national spotlight. After earning a master's degree at Memphis State University, Blackstock left the area for Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where he attended the University of Southern Mississippi's doctoral school. While earning his doctorate in education, he continued to sharpen his coaching techniques at Hattiesburg High School where he coached baseball and at Thames Junior High where his coaching responsibilities included basketball and football.
By the time Blackstock returned to Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1973 as athletic director and instructor in the physical education department, there were few sports he had not coached or played. Blackstock took over the baseball program at Â鶹ÊÓƵ in 1977 where he eventually guided the team to the winningest year in baseball history. In 1980 Blackstock was named Volunteer State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. With Blackstock at the helm in 1983, the team accomplished what none other had and placed third in the NAIA World Series.
It was at that same time Blackstock turned his attention to the women's basketball program. Few have accomplished what he has in the arena of women's basketball as shown by the capturing of the national title this season. Blackstock has brought the program to heights that are unbelievable. It is easy to take for granted what he has accomplished. The program has set such a standard that sometimes it becomes expected instead of appreciated. Â鶹ÊÓƵ University's women's basketball program ranked number two in the nation for winningest programs in the last five years at the beginning of this season.
In Blackstock's tenure at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, he has coached 10 All-Americans in basketball and baseball and numerous all conference players, but when many think of Coach Blackstock, it's not the records or trophies that come to mind. It's not how many times he was named Coach of the Year. It's just "Coach B", the man who puts a person at ease with his sense of humor and makes people enjoy his company. Players think of a coach who cares about them as individuals, not just players. Students think of the teacher they selected as Faculty Member of the Year in 1988-89.
Blackstock brings many assets to Â鶹ÊÓƵ University and the athletic department-too numerous to name them all. Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been fortunate to have Blackstock at the helm of the Lady Bulldogs and he has now received what all coaches dream of-a national title.