Blackwelder Named Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach
8/25/2009 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Aug. 25, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate head cross country and track and field coach Jimmy Stephens announced today the hiring of Carson Blackwelder. He is a former head coach at Morehead State and assistant coach at Appalachian State.
"We are extremely excited to add Coach Blackwelder to our staff. His experience as a head coach as well as previous experiences makes him an invaluable part of our program here at Upstate" head coach Jimmy Stephens said.
Blackwelder arrives at Upstate after spending the last year at Morehead State, members of the Division I Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). At MSU, he was responsible for all facets of the program, which included recruiting, workout regiments, budget and travel and was the director of fundraising for the program.
Blackwelder's program had two individuals named to the cross country All-Conference team as well as having his women's track team honored as an All-Academic team. He also coached the school's 8k school record holder.
Coach Stephens added, "In his first year as a head coach, Carson's program earned a regional ranking, which is impressive for any coach in our Region. We are confident he can take our program to the next level. As we are entering our third season of competition in Division I, our expectations are continuing to rise for the program."
Prior to MSU, Blackwelder spent three years as an assistant coach at Appalachian State, Division I members of the Southern Conference (SoCon). His primary duties at ASU were recruiting coordinator for the cross country program, while also serving as the strength and conditioning coach for the team's distance runners.
During his tenure at ASU the cross country and track program won five men's conference titles, three women's conference titles, as well as four SoCon individual track champions. Also during Blackwelder's time in Boone, the Mountaineers had 12 individuals named all-conference in track and field, 11 named cross country all-conference performers, two individuals named all-region in cross country and four regional qualifiers in track and field.
A native of Concord, N.C., Blackwelder was a standout at ASU as a member of the cross country and track programs. He was a two-time all-conference selection and team MVP in cross country. He also received all-conference accolades in indoor track.
The 2009 Upstate cross country team begins its 2009 season with the Upstate/Wofford Dual-Meet at Milliken Park on September 1st.
