March 8, 2022 – Clinton College's Head Women's Basketball Coach, Jessica Blair, was named USCAA Coach of the Year at the USCAA tournament-opening virtual awards held Sunday night.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for the hard work my young ladies put in. I’m grateful they chose me as a coach and bought into my program,” said Blair. “Some would say they’re lucky to have me, but I feel lucky to have them. It feels amazing to bring notoriety to my alma mater.”
In her fifth season with the Lady Golden Bears, Blair led her team to a regular-season finish of 16-2 which helped them to secure the number one seed in the USCAA national tournament. Prior to heading to nationals on Sunday, Coach Blair and the Lady Golden Bears secured the Eastern Metro Athletic Conference championship.
During the 2019-2020 season, Coach Blair broke the school scoring record, setting a record of 143 points scored in a single game. The Lady Bears earned a 5th seed bid in the National Championship Tournament, which was the first time the Lady Bears had ever made an appearance in the tournament.
No stranger to Clinton College, Coach Blair attended Clinton as a student-athlete. As a player for Clinton, Blair was a regular starter where she averaged 19 points per game earning her the title of MVP, All-Region, as well as nominations for player of the year and NJCAA All-American team.
After graduating in 2012 with an associate degree in Liberal Arts, Blair continued her success at Morris College. Entering in on a full academic scholarship, she continued to succeed off the court as well as on the court, averaging double figures per game. She graduated Cum Laude from Morris College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and later received her master’s degree in Higher Education, from Purdue University Global.
Coach Blair and the Lady Golden Bears are currently in Petersburg, VA competing for the USCAA National Championship. After securing a win on Monday versus Florida National University, Blair and the Lady Golden Bears advanced to the semifinals where they will face Saint Mary of the Woods College on Wednesday, March 9th.