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In his sixth season on the University of Houston's coaching staff, Will Blackburn begins his fourth year as an assistant coach. Blackburn will coach Houston's horizontal jumpers and throwers for the second season after coaching the long and triple jumps in 2005. He also assists with the multi-event athletes. He coached the throwing events in the four previous years. In addition to his coaching duties, Blackburn coordinates Houston's recruiting efforts. Last season, Blackburn coached Caresir Hamilton to a Conference USA Indoor and Outdoor Championship in the triple jump. Hamilton also set a school record in the triple jump with a leap of 43-4.50. Jonathan Reeves earned the Conference USA Outdoor Championship in the shot put with a throw of 61.6 and was also a conference champion in the discus with a throw of 186.3. Reeves also qualified for the NCAA Championship in the shot put. In 2005, he coached C-USA men's and women's indoor and outdoor long jump champions, Brandon Bray and Jasmine Jackson. Jackson finished in 10th place at the NCAA Championships after leaping 21-7, and Caresir Hamilton was a NCAA qualifier after recording a triple jump mark of 41-6. The two preceding seasons, Blackburn coached the C-USA runner-up in the men's shot put and a NCAA qualifier in the men's discus two years ago. He also has tutored three of the school's top five women's throwers in the weight throw and hammer, including Shayla Bowman, the school record holder in each event. In addition, Blackburn coached Tinisha Wesley, one of the top five throwers in the women's shot put and Allie Booker, one of the top two women's discus throwers. During the 2004 season, Blackburn coached then-freshman Vincent Marshal to the Indoor Conference USA championship in the triple jump and runner-up at the Outdoor Championships. Marshall qualified for the NCAA Championship in the same year with a leap of 52-2.75 at the Midwest Regional Championiships. Blackburn began his coaching career after competing in the discus for the UH track and field team. He won the discus at the 2000 Texas Southern Relays and was the runner-up at the Conference USA Championships that season. He was Houston's top athlete in the weight throw as a freshman and threw the hammer during the outdoor campaign that year. When he returned for his sophomore season, he injured his back while lifting weights during preseason workouts. He missed the 1998 indoor season and competed in one event during the outdoor campaign before undergoing back surgery for a ruptured disk. Born in El Paso, Texas, Blackburn earned his bachelor's degree in education from UH. He was a member of the Dean's List, Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll and he received an endowed athletics scholarship. Before coming to Houston, Blackburn was a two-sport star in football and track and field at Dayton High School in Dayton, Texas. He was named the MVP for both teams and earned the school's Most Valuable Athlete Award as a senior. Blackburn married the former Geri Blankenship of Crosby, Texas on October 23, 2004. She is an elementary school teacher at Foster Elementary School in Kingwood, Texas. |
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