Kristen Blackburn: Balancing Between Coach and Mentor

When I started my first job at Union I was completely lost. I wasn’t sure where to go on my first day and I didn’t know anyone else who was working. Eventually, I found my way to H-hallway which led me to the concessions stand where I would work for the rest of the semester. 

As the only non-athlete working the concessions stand at the time, I felt a little out of place. Thanks to a recently graduated former volleyball player, that feeling would soon change. 

Kristen Blackburn was one of the first faces to greet me when I arrived. I didn’t know if she was trying to make me feel comfortable and confident in my new job, although looking back on it, that was most certainly her intent, but as soon as we began talking I instantly felt better about my new part-time position.

Little did either of us know at the time, but Blackburn would soon be hired as the new head coach of Union University’s volleyball team.

Recently, I was able to see Blackburn again and ask her about her transition from being a player to head coach, which happened over the span of just two years. 

As a 24-year-old college coach, some would assume that Blackburn is at a disadvantage because of her age, but she disagrees.

“Knowing that I wasn’t too far from their shoes, and I know that college is still hard,” Blackburn says. “I know what they need in terms of a social life or if they have too much on their plate because they’re studying too much, or this and that. I can still sympathize and understand that.”

Sometimes, making connections with a professor or coach can be difficult for an athlete or student. Blackburn sees this and insists on breaking that barrier instead of sustaining it. 

This is what Blackburn is good at, leadership, and connecting with college girls. 

Reese Owens, a sophomore Digital Media Communications major, plays under Blackburn on Union’s volleyball team. When I ask her what it has been like to play under Blackburn, Owens’s face lights up.

“I feel like I can always go to her when I’m feeling discouraged or if I feel like I don’t have a lot of confidence when I’m playing,” Owens says. “She helps me get out of it and that’s one of my favorite things about her.” 

I smile as I recall certain busy days at the concessions stand when Blackburn determinately kept a smile on her face and helped the student workers get the job done. 

I also reflect on how it can be difficult to find a good balance between the two roles of coach and mentor but Blackburn has been determined to maintain both.

“I think that you can have a close relationship with your athletes without having it be weird or distant,” she says confidently. 

Perhaps part of the reason for Blackburn’s good balance between mentor and coach comes from her own experience on the team as an athlete. When asked about her favorite part about the team Blackburn nods and immediately replies, “Relationships,” without hesitation.

“Obviously when you’re an athlete you get to have a closer, more friend-like relationship with the girls but when I graduated I was able to have still that relationship but I was able to have it in a different way,” Blackburn says.

Transitioning from coach to an athlete was not always easy for Blackburn though. Initially, while still in college, she was burnt out from school and not looking to work at the same place she was attending. Blackburn explains that, due to covid, she needed to stay an extra semester, and felt like it was a setback. She says that she wanted, “to graduate with my class and move on with my class.” Now though, she sees where God was working in her life then and what his purpose was for her.

After that time, Blackburn soon began volunteer assistant coaching for the volleyball team and she was hooked.

“Volunteer assisting just really opened my eyes to how I loved the team, loved the program, loved the people I’m around,” she says, and she has shown her love of community in her work even in her transition from assistant to head coach. 

Owens discusses that dedication as well.

“With Kris I would easily go hang out with her or just go sit in her office if I have a little time in between classes,” Owens says, “I think there’s more of a comfort level with her.”

Blackburn is dedicated to her work. She loves her team and has a strong desire to foster community and a family-like environment among the girls. While transitioning from a player, to an assistant coach to the head coach is not always an easy task, Blackburn has utilized her strengths and worked on her weaknesses to succeed. 

I can see this opinion reflected in Owens as she shows her appreciation and respect for her new head coach.

“She has challenged me to grow as a person, not only on the court but off the court and with my friendships and in my faith,” Owens says. “That’s one thing I love about her.”

Photo by Laila Al-Hagal