Sports has always been a big part of Nathan Blackwood’s life.  From the time he played a multitude of sports at Lubbock Christian High School to playing and then coaching baseball at Lubbock Christian University his passion for the game has been obvious.  Coach Blackwood began his coaching endeavors shortly after playing baseball at LCU and graduating in 1995.  But his first taste of the profession was actually not coaching baseball. “Growing up, I wanted to be a football coach.  that’s really what I set all my goals to be.  Knew I was going to be a football coach.  Actually being a football coach or being a rancher.  One of those two.  As far as coaching it was all about football.  My first couple jobs that’s what I was looking at. I got a defensive backs job at Ralls and also assistant baseball.  You know one of those oh by the way jobs.  Threw in 7th grade girls basketball and different things along the lines.”

 Blackwood then completed his graduate degree at Harding University while working as an assistant baseball coach for the Bison.  Then in 2000 Blackwood returned to LCU as the Kinesiology Chair for three years before being offered his dream job as the head coach of the LCU Chaps baseball program.  Coach Blackwood has led the Chaps to multiple fifty win seasons, conference titles, post season appearances, and trips to the NAIA World Series.  In 2009 the Chaps won their second National Title ever.  All of LCU made a change just a few years back as they moved from being a long time NAIA school to a NCAA Division 2 school.  Blackwood led his Chaps to back to back appearances in the NCAA Division 2 post season the first two years they have been eligible.   

 “I’ve seen a long history of good baseball here.  Way way before I got here.  It was easy to come in here and just continue what coach Hays, and Shankle and Sherrard, Daren Hays and all those guys had really established.  It’s a great place to work.”