Charlotte, N.C. (April 7, 2015) — Johnson C. Smith University announced today the appointment of Kermit Blount as head football coach of the Golden Bulls. Blount has head coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels.
“Coach Blount comes to us with a wealth of experience on and off the football field,” said JCSU Athletics Director Steven Joyner Sr. “He has a history of engaging and collaborating among constituents in higher education and the community as well as alumni and football at all levels. We are very excited about the possibilities of forward movement for our football student-athletes, football program and University under his leadership,” said Joyner.
JCSU President Ronald L. Carter said Blount was selected for the position because of his well-documented leadership skills.
“Coach Blount has the leadership skills to not only know the University’s priorities for institutional effectiveness in our athletics program but also to be effective in sharing and achieving these priorities in the sport of football,” Carter said.
Blount comes to JCSU after serving five years at Delaware State University. Prior to his appointment at Delaware State, Blount served as head coach at Winston-Salem State University. While at WSSU, Blount notched a career record of 91-87-3, leading the Rams to an 8-2 record in his final season at the helm. He guided the Rams to two Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships and a total of three CIAA championship game appearances. He also led the Rams to two Pioneer Bowl appearances, winning in 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 in both 1999 and 2000.
Throughout his coaching career, Blount has been associated with programs that have experienced phenomenal success. In all, he has been in a leadership role with teams that have won a total of six conference titles at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels. He has also served as President of the CIAA Football Coaches Association.
Prior to becoming head coach at WSSU, Blount served as an assistant coach for five seasons at South Carolina State from 1989-1993, coaching the quarterbacks, wide receivers and acting as the Bulldogs’ Offensive Coordinator. Blount also coached the quarterbacks at Howard University (1984-1989) and at East Carolina University (1983-1984). Blount started his coaching career at his high school alma mater, Armstrong-Kennedy High School, in Richmond, Va.
Blount earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health and physical education from Winston-Salem State University in 1980. While at WSSU, Blount was a stand-out quarterback for the Rams, earning four letters and guiding WSSU to the 1977 and 1978 CIAA Championships. He earned All-District NAIA honors in 1977. In 1978, he was named a Black College All-American.
As a four-year starter at quarterback, Blount sat atop the WSSU record books for more than 25 years before his 3,330 career passing yards were surpassed in 2004.
A native of Richmond, Va., Blount and wife, Ava, have two adult children, April and Bryan.
Courtesy: JSCU Sports Information
