The West Virginia State softball team has a new softball coach, but its former coach isn't moving too far, just to another office in the athletic department.
WVSU has named Kerri Blackwell, the softball coach for the last three years, as the Yellow Jackets' new assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator. Mattie Best, an assistant to Blackwell for three seasons, has been named interim softball coach.
State athletic director Nate Burton said the move was a necessary one for the department.
"While evaluating our athletic department, we had a clear need to add another full-time administrator," said Burton. "I am excited that Kerri has chosen to help lead this department and I am confident she will be a great asset to our programs and to our student-athletes."
Blackwell's responsibilities include administrative oversight over WVSU's five women's programs, academic coordinator, serving as the department's deputy Title IX coordinator and other internal operations duties.
"A goal of mine has always been to move to the administrative side of intercollegiate athletics," Blackwell said. "I am looking forward to working with our coaches and student-athletes. I am dedicated to the enrichment of our student-athletes and their overall experience at WVSU."
Best is a former first-team All-Mountain East Conference and second-team All-Atlantic Region selection as a third baseman for WVSU. She completed her playing career in 2014 with a .370 batting average and holds the program record for career doubles.