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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Collegiate coaching veteran David Blackwell has joined the University of Missouri football staff as a defensive consultant, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz announced.
Blackwell has three decades of coaching experience at the collegiate level. During his career, Blackwell has worked at nine different schools, including Clemson, Pitt, South Florida and most recently as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech. All told, he has 13 years of defensive coordinator experience for six different programs.
“David’s coordinated and been a part of some really good defenses over the years and will provide a great sounding board for Coach Baker and our defensive staff,” said Drinkwitz. “This role is really about watching and analyzing how we’re preparing in the meeting room, on the practice field, focusing on those little details in the game plan or advance scouting that can make the difference come game day. David’s been around this game at the Division I level for 30-plus years and seen a whole lot of football. He’ll help make Mizzou football better.”
Blackwell’s coaching career has included defensive coordinator stops at Louisiana Tech (2020-21), Old Dominion (2019), East Carolina (2018), Jacksonville State (2014-17), Fordham University (2012-14) and USF (2009-10).
His defense at East Carolina ranked No. 15 nationally in sacks and third in forced three-and-outs. At Jacksonville State, Blackwell’s 2017 unit ranked fourth nationally in total defense and seventh in scoring defense and completed a second-straight undefeated conference season. Blackwell was also a finalist for the FCS Defensive Coordinator of the Year in both 2015 and 2016 while with the Gamecocks. At USF, he led a defense that finished in the FBS Top 20 in scoring defense during the 2009 season.
Blackwell spent six seasons at Clemson (2003-2008) coaching linebackers and serving as the recruiting coordinator. His Clemson defenses ranked among the Top 15 nationally in scoring defense from 2006-2008, leading to appearances in the Music City, Chick-Fil-A Peach and Gator Bowls, respectively.
He started his coaching career at Illinois State (1996-99) before moving on to Pittsburgh (2000-02), where he helped the Panthers to a trio of bowl games.
Blackwell is a graduate of East Carolina University, where he was also an undergraduate student assistant with the rush linebackers from 1992-95.
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