A 1964 graduate of Abilene Christian University, Blackwood has been married to Dr. Susan Blackwood, executive director of the San Antonio Sports Foundation, since 1989. Blackwood has one daughter, Jessica, and one granddaughter, Taylor.

Melvin Pat Patterson

We had some fun times together at Texas as coaches. I recently had the opportunity to visit on the phone remembering old times

Blackwood began his coaching career in 1965 at Corpus Christi W.B. Ray High School, where he served as an assistant track and cross-country coach. His cross-country team won the state championship in 1965 and was runner-up in 1966. From 1967-70, he was the head track and assistant football coach at Corpus Christi King. The next two years, Blackwood assumed the same duties at Richardson High near Dallas.

Blackwood began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Texas in 1972 as an assistant track and field and cross-country coach with the Longhorns. In addition to the All-Americans produced at Texas, Blackwood’s teams captured 13 Southwest Conference Championships. During his 12 years as an assistant at UT, the Longhorns finished in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships 11 times.

Randy Clay

My coach, my mentor and my friend.

RIP Coach Blackwood 🤘

Olympian Patrick Sang (1992 silver medalist), Johnny “Lam” Jones (4×100-meter relay gold medalist), Henry Marsh (American record holder in the steeplechase and four-time Olympian), and James Lott (NCAA high jump champion) are just a few of the outstanding athletes he has coached. In all, Blackwood has mentored 17 Olympians.

In 1985, he was named recruiting coordinator for the Texas football team. The Longhorns captured one Southwest Conference football title and went to three bowls during Blackwood’s recruiting tenure. Twenty-five of his players went on to play in the NFL.

He left the collegiate ranks to work with the Houston Astros Baseball Club. Blackwood returned to college coaching in 1997 as the head cross country and assistant track and field coach at Southern Mississippi University.

Jim Deitrick

RIP, James! 🙏🙏🙏. He was a good man and funny dude. 🤘🤘🤘

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Gene Coleman says, James Blackwood was a good friend, great coach, and loyal Longhorn. He will be missed.

Sad to learn of the passing of my lifelong friend James Blackwood. Growing up, my godfather Cleburne Price was the Men’s Head Track Coach for the University of Texas. James was his assistant. I spent countless hours on the track (back when it was still in Memorial Stadium). Coach Blackwood always had some of the best, craziest recruiting stories. As an adult, through my involvement with the Texas Relays Officials Association, I maintained my friendship with Coach. He never failed to stop, ask me about my girls, my law practice and laugh about how Coach Price was so meticulous regarding every detail of the Texas Relays. Godspeed Coach and thank you for all the memories.

Blackwood joined the UTSA track & field coaching staff for nine seasons, the last seven as head coach of the women’s program.

Blackwood, a major figure in Texas track and field, has played a key role in turning the UTSA Relays—now in its ninth year—into one of the premier early outdoor meets in the Southwest. He’s also been an associate director of the Texas Relays since 1972 and has worked on five NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Len Jackson says, ” Coach Blackwood was the track coach at King HS in Corpus Christi when I attended school there. He was a great coach and teacher who helped his athletes achieve their best performance. But more than that, he taught the was a good example to the young boys and helped them become responsible citizens. I treasure the memories I was blessed to enjoy when being a part of his legacy in Corpus Christi. RIP Coach, and thanks for being a part of my life.”

Len Jackson

King HS ’70

On March 13, 2008, 39-year veteran of athletics in the state of Texas, seventh-year UTSA women’s head track & field coach James Blackwood announced he will retire at the end of this season. He will continue to serve as meet director for all UTSA cross country and track & field meets and as a consultant in the development of the future UTSA track and field complex.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at UTSA,” Blackwood said. “From Dr. Romo to Lynn Hickey and the support staff and student-athletes, we have a great group of people to work with here. It’s been an absolutely wonderful place to work.

Guys, not all of you will know Coach James Blackwood, but those that knew him lost a good friend recently. He was a great friend of mine, we had football tickets next to each other, shared a love of Golden Retrievers, and talked track and Longhorn sports all the time. Cleburn Price hired him in 1972, so we all missed him as a coach, but he ran Texas Relays for many years, was recruiting coordinator for Akers and McWilliams, and probably came to your town to speak at Longhorn gatherings. Ricardo Romo hired him at UTSA until James retired.  Longhorn Sports lost our biggest fan. L J Cohen

During his tenure in San Antonio, Blackwood tutored Rhonda Ray and Ryanne Dupree to a combined five All-America certificates and has coached more than 60 all-conference performers and 26 Southland Conference champions. Seventeen school records were broken under his watch.

Coach Blackwood says, “I’ve been around track since 1964, and I’m turning 67 now, so I felt like it was time for me to do some other things. I will really miss the interaction with the kids the most. However, I will still get to be involved with UTSA in running the home meets and helping with the design of the new track and field complex.”

The awards his student-athletes have received are not limited to the track. Roadrunners have garnered two ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America certificates, four Academic All-District accolades, four SLC Student-Athlete of the Year honors and 11 Academic All-SLC awards.

The UTSA administration said, “We are very proud that we have had Coach Blackwood on our staff for the past nine years,” Athletics Director Lynn Hickey said. “He has made a major contribution during his coaching career to thousands of young people, and we are honored that part of that career was here at UTSA.

“We are glad that he has committed to staying a part of our program as the director of our cross country and outdoor track and field meets. Even though he is ready to step away from day-to-day coaching duties, it will be very helpful to still have him as a part of our program in assisting with events and the development of our new track facility.”

Rodney Page page says:

Coach Blackwood and I arrived at UT in 1972. We officed together for the first year, I believe. We shared the same big office space in Gregory across the hall from Rec Sports with the others who were newly hired: Coach Dave Snyder, Coach Dave Woods, and Mr. Harold Pearcy (Instructor). Gone, but never forgotten!💯 Lots of memories! Old ones! Photo is of Rodney Page

These are my heartfelt comments I shared in response to Chris Plonsky’s FB post:

“RIP, my friend. A good man, a good soul! Genuine to the bone! We shared many early morning runs before work in the late 70s. We also shared many personal life stories of significance. He always stressed the importance of being able to chat while running. We solved many of the world’s problems on our morning runs.😊.png He introduced me to the habit and benefits of distance running. He was family first! My heart of compassion goes out to his wife, daughter, and family. Susan Blackwood “May his memory be for a blessing.”

Horns Up!!