Playing Experience
Played at East Carolina in 1990 as an offensive lineman.
Education
B.S. degree in exercise science from East Carolina in 1997.
Coaching Experience
Undergraduate assistant coach at East Carolina (1992)...rush end linebackers coach at East Carolina (1993-95)...recruiting coordinator/defensive line at Illinois State (1996,97)...recruiting coordinator/linebackers at Illinois State (1998,99)...linebackers coach at Pittsburgh (2000-02)...recruiting coordinator/linebackers at Clemson (2003-06).
Bowl Seasons as an Assistant Coach
1994 Liberty Bowl...1995 Liberty Bowl...2000 Insight.com Bowl...2001 Tangerine Bowl...2002 Insight.com Bowl...2004 Peach Bowl...2005 Champs Sports Bowl...2006 Music City Bowl.
Personal Data
Born May 4, 1971 in Greenville, SC...married to the former Melissa Androutsos...the couple has a son (D.J. 1).
David Blackwell is in his fifth season coaching linebackers at Clemson. He has been a part of the Tigers' defensive resurgence over the last four years, play that has seen Clemson win nine games over top-25 teams, tied for the most in a four-year period in Clemson history. The Tigers have won at least eight games in three of the four years and have been bowl eligible each year he has been with the program as well.
In 2006, Clemson's defense was in the top 25 in all four major categories, the first time Clemson has done that since the 1990 season. Thanks in part to the aggressive play of Blackwell's linebackers, Clemson was 13th in the nation in total defense, 16th in scoring defense, 17th in pass efficiency defense, 18th in rushing defense, and 24th in pass defense. It was quite an accomplishment for the defense considering it lost preseason All-American Anthony Waters in the first game of the year due to a torn ACL. Blackwell was able to work with his young linebackers to take up most of the slack over the course of the year and help the Tigers to an eight-win season for the second straight year.
The play of his linebackers had a lot to do with Clemson's strong finish in 2005 and high national finish in defensive categories. Clemson was in the top 25 in seven categories, including scoring defense (#11), tackles for loss (#13), turnover margin (#16), pass efficiency defense (#18), total defense (#20), rushing defense (#25), and sacks (#25).
The 17.6 points allowed per game was the best mark in 11 years, and the #11 national finish in that category was the best in 10 seasons. Clemson allowed just 11 points per game in the last seven games of 2005. Six of those seven resulted in wins, leading the Tigers to a #21 final ranking.
Leroy Hill's development under Blackwell was consistent over his last two years (2003,04), leading to his selection in the third round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Hill started in the Super Bowl for Seattle as a rookie when he had 7.5 sacks, third-most in franchise history for a rookie and third among NFL rookies in 2005. Hill was named ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year, Third-Team AP All-American, and was a two-time First-Team All-ACC selection under Blackwell's tutelage.
Blackwell's linebackers were a big reason Clemson finished with a top-25 final ranking and nine wins in 2003. The defense allowed #3 Florida State and #6 Tennessee just 49 combined rushing yards in Tiger victories at the end of the season.
Blackwell directed Clemson's recruiting efforts in his first three years. Both his 2005 and 2006 recruiting classes were ranked in the top 20 by nearly every service. The 2006 recruiting class had the most Parade and USA Today All-Americans for the Tiger program in 16 years.
He has significant experience at the Division I level as both a defensive coach and recruiter. He was the linebackers coach at Pittsburgh from 2000-02. He was a big reason the Panthers went to three straight bowl games during that period. Combined with his career at Clemson, he has been with a bowl-eligible program for each of the last seven years.
The Panthers finished with a 9-4 record and #18 ranking in the coaches poll at the end of the 2002 season. Their season included a 38-13 win over Oregon State in the Insight.com Bowl. Thus, Blackwell was an assistant on top-25 teams in consecutive years (2002,03) with two different programs.
In 2002, the Panthers' point-prevention unit was 14th in the nation in scoring defense, 12th in total defense, 15th in pass efficiency defense, and 24th in rushing defense. They were one of the few programs to finish in the top 25 in all four major categories.
Prior to his stop at Pittsburgh, Blackwell was an assistant at Illinois State from 1996-99. He had a big part in one of the top turnarounds in Division I-AA during that period. In 1999, Illinois State compiled a school-best 11-3 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs before losing to eventual National Champion Georgia Southern.
He joined the Redbirds' staff as a defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. He served as recruiting coordinator for four seasons. One of his primary recruiting areas was the state of Florida.
In his first season at Illinois State, Blackwell's defensive line accounted for 38 of the team's 47 sacks, the second-highest total in school history. He coached three All-Americans and 11 all-conference performers at Illinois State. In 1999, All-American Galen Scott, one of Blackwell's linebackers, totaled 173 tackles, including 27 tackles in a single game, both school records.
Blackwell began his coaching career at his alma mater (East Carolina) as rush linebackers coach between the 1993 and 1995 seasons. The Pirates earned trips to the Liberty Bowl in two of those seasons.
On the gridiron, Blackwell played at East Carolina in 1990 as a freshman offensive lineman. His top game came against national power Florida State when he graded 85 percent. In 1991, a year in which East Carolina posted an 11-1 record and a #9 ranking in the final AP poll, Blackwell's playing career was cut short by a neck injury. He remained close to the program and served as a student assistant on the 1992 coaching staff.
Blackwell, a native of Greenville, SC and alum of Berea High School, went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in exercise science from East Carolina in 1997.
He is married to the former Melissa Androutsos, who served as the sports information director for men's basketball at Pittsburgh. The couple has a son, D.J. (1).