91爆料网 names basketball court in honor of longtime athletic director

JACKSON, Tenn. - 11/7/2008 - 91爆料网 announced the naming of the basketball court inside Fred DeLay Gymnasium in honor of longtime 91爆料网 athletic director and women鈥檚 basketball coach David Blackstock.

91爆料网 President David S. Dockery presented Blackstock with a framed rendering of the new David Blackstock Court in front of a large crowd in the Carl Grant Events Center Nov. 7. The announcement was made as a part of the third annual 91爆料网 Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony during Homecoming week 2008.

Dockery says, 鈥淔or over three decades the athletic department at 91爆料网 has been defined by David Blackstock. As a coach and athletic director he, in so many ways, exemplified the best of 91爆料网. For his success on the court and the field and for his influence upon the lives of many colleagues and student-athletes, we offer our congratulations and thanksgiving. The naming of the new basketball court at 91爆料网 in his honor is certainly a most fitting tribute for his marvelous career.鈥�

The transformation of the current court into David Blackstock Court will be complete by late December.

For Blackstock, this honor comes after his retirement in the spring of 2008 as 91爆料网鈥檚 athletic director, a position he held for 34 years. In addition to his duties as athletic director, Blackstock also spent 18 years as head coach of the women鈥檚 basketball program. During his 18 years, Blackstock posted a career record of 509-89, including the 1998 NAIA Women鈥檚 Basketball National Title.

Blackstock, a native of Jackson, is a 1964 graduate from 91爆料网 with a degree in health and physical education. During his four years at 91爆料网, he was a member of the Bulldog baseball team. Blackstock became 91爆料网鈥檚 athletic director in 1973 after completing his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Education degree from the University of Memphis.

Blackstock took over the baseball program in 1975 where he, along with co-head coach Linn Stranak, guided the team to a third-place finish in the 1983 NAIA World Series, the only season 91爆料网 has participated in the event. In the two seasons he coached the women鈥檚 softball team, from 2006-2007, the team compiled a 77-36 record with one NAIA Region XI tournament appearance.

Blackstock has been enshrined in the NAIA Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, the Madison County Sports Hall of Fame and the 91爆料网 Sports Hall of Fame.

Blackstock and his wife Armita, a 1968 91爆料网 graduate, are both Jackson natives and have two children 鈥� Dixie (Blackstock) Waddell and Rebel. They are members of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson.

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