Kentucky Wesleyan College will add men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field beginning with the upcoming academic year, according to KWC director of athletics David Williams.
The addition of track and field brings the Panthers' athletic program total to 17 NCAA Division II sports with eight men and nine women.
"Track and field at KWC is a great fit for this community," stated Williams. "Owensboro and the surrounding regions are rich with talent. Our program will have an opportunity to grow in size and quality very quickly."
Williams also announced Notre Dame College coach John Blackwell has been named head coach for the Panther's cross country squads as well as the inaugural track and field teams.
Blackwell, a native of Louisville, spent the past two seasons as the Falcons head men's and women's track and field coach and interim men's and women's cross country coach in South Euclid, Ohio.
He produced two All-Americans, 10 NAIA National Qualifiers, nine conference champions, 13 all-conference performers and his teams set 10 school records in both cross country and track programs.
"John was highly recommended to us," added Williams. "He's a very good communicator who will grow our cross country/track and field programs quickly. His experience as a head coach and his ability to coach multiple events was very attractive."
Blackwell on his appointment stated, "The opportunity to take hold of a cross country and track program at an institution the caliber of Kentucky Wesleyan, while returning to my home state is definitely a blessing.
"The expansion of our program and the move into a new conference are changes that excite us all. Challenges lie ahead of us but we will meet them with a ferocity befitting our fine institution."
Prior to NDC, he served as the assistant track and field coach at Bellarmine University in Louisville for four seasons.
His BU throwers fashioned three NCAA Provisional Qualifiers, five All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honorees as they set 14 school records.
He started his coaching career as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Ia., during the 2005-06 seasons.
During his tenure at NIACC, he coached seven United States Track and Field Coaches Association All-Americans, 35 NJCAA national qualifiers, 15 region champions while setting 20 school records.
Blackwell led the University of Louisville Cardinal track squad for three seasons in throwing the discus, shot put and hammer. He also competed at Florida International University his freshman year.
The Louisville Male High School graduate earned Most Valuable Track and Field Athlete his junior and senior seasons. He also won the AAU state championship in discus and shot put in 1999 and 2000.
Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration from Louisville and Master of Business Administration from Bellarmine.
He and his wife Lashauntay have three children: Gabrielle, 7; John, 5; and Donald, 4.