Dover, Del. (Feb. 4, 2011) - DSU President Harry Lee Williams today announced Kermit W. Blount as the new Head Football Coach of the Hornet football program. Blount was introduced to the media, along with Delaware State University staff, alumni, boosters and current football players during a gathering at the Martin Luther King Student Center this morning.
Blount brings 27 years of intercollegiate football coaching experience to Delaware State University - including 16 as the head football coach for Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina.
During his tenure at Winston-Salem, Coach Blount had a career record 91-87-3, which included his final 2009 season with the Rams in which he led the team to an 8-2 record. He guided the Rams to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Championships and a total of three CIAA Championship game appearances. He also led Winston-Salem to two Pioneer Bowl appearances, one of which the team emerged as the victor (1999).
Blount was honored as the CIAA Coach of the Year and as the Washington D.C. Pigskin Coach of the Year, as well as the 100% Wrong Club Coach of the Year - each award in both 1999 and 2000.
In addition to his on-the-field successes, Coach Blount increased the Winston-Salem players' graduation rate increased from 42% in 1993 to 80% by 2009.
Prior to his Winston-Salem tenure, he served from 1983-1992 in assistant coach posts with South Carolina State University, Howard University and East Carolina University. During all three coaching stints, he coached quarterbacks and receivers; Coach Blount also served as the offensive coordinator for S.C. State.
Throughout his career, a number of players from his teams have gone to play professionally in the NFL, CFL and the Arena Football League, including William Hayes, a starting third-year defensive end for the Tennessee Titans.
President Williams said that Coach Blount's record speaks for itself.
"Coach Blount has proven he knows how to guide student-athletes to championship-level seasons as well as accomplish high standards of academic success," Dr. Williams said. "The Search Committee is to be commended for its diligence in reviewing the candidates, in engaging in earnest deliberations and arriving at its recommendation."
Delaware State University Director of athletics Derek Carter says Blount brings a wealth of experience to the Hornet football program.
"Kermit Blount stood out among the many outstanding candidates for the position because of his broad experience, proven leadership and vision for Delaware State University football," Carter said. "His record of leading young men to success on the field and in the classroom makes him an ideal fit for the university and the football program."
Blount expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to lead the Delaware State University football program during his remarks.
"First of all, I want to thank President Williams and the DSU administration, along with the search committee, for the privilege of coaching the Hornets," Blount. "This program has a rich tradition, and the foundation for success is already in place. I'm looking forward to working with the university, our players, supporters and the community to take this team to the next level."
The selection of Blount was the culmination of DSU's nationwide search process that resulted in the attraction of more than 50 candidates, said Candy Young, the chair of the DSU Search Committee and associate athletics director/senior woman administrator.
President Williams appointed the members of the diverse search committee, which in addition to Ms. Young included: Kemal Atkins, vice president of Student Affairs; Dr. Jan Blade, associate professor of sports sciences, Carolyn Curry, vice president of Institutional Advancement and chief of staff, Barry Granger, DSU Board of Trustees member; Eric Hart, associate athletics director/Student Services; Frank Marshall, founder/longtime president of the DSU Boosters and alumnus ('62); Calvin Miner, DSU student athlete; Alfred Outlaw, DSU Alumni Association representative and class of 1971; Edna Piper, athletics administrative assistant; and Joseph Purczyki, former DSU head football coach (1981-84).
Ms. Young said the committee reviewed the resumes and interviewed a selected pool of candidates who emerged as strong contenders. "The search process was extensive, thorough and very fair," Ms. Young said.
A native of Richmond, Va., Blount has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Winston-Salem State University.
He will be joined in his move to Delaware by his wife Ava. Their union of 25 years has produced two grown children, April and Bryan.
