Austin Blackwell enters his third season as a McPherson assistant men's basketball coach in 2018-19. 

Blackwell came to McPherson after spending the prior two years as a coach and teacher at Cottage Hill Christian Academy in Mobile, Ala.

He has past experience as a graduate assistant in the athletics department at the University of Southern Mississippi where he provided academic support services to varsity student-athletes, including individual academic assistance, study hall supervision, and general department support.

In addition, Blackwell served as a coach and teacher at St. Luke’s Episcopal School from 2013 to 2014 and was a basketball department extern at the University of Virginia during the summer of 2014, assisting staff with admininstrative and practice duties, and worked as a coach at the Tony Bennett Basketball Camps during the Summer of 2016.

Blackwell graduated from Furman University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in communications and from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014 with a master’s degree in sport management.

“We are thrilled Coach Blackwell returned this year,” commented head coach Tim Swartzendruber.  “Coach Blackwell is in charge of our junior varsity program and did a great job last year. The fact he is returning and knows many of our players will be a positive for us. He is more involved in other facets of the program as well.”