New Mexico Junior College - Track/Cross Country Coaches

Keith Blackwill, Women’s Cross Country/Indoor-Outdoor Track Coach Email>>

Since Keith Blackwill became Head Track and Field Coach in 2005, the Lady Thunderbirds have finished in the top 10 at Indoor/Outdoor Nationals four times. Six of the athletes became national champions, winning the 4 x 400 meter Relay and Distance Medley Relay at the 2007 Indoor National Meet, finishing 4th overall as a team.

Blackwill came to NMJC after 2 years as Assistant Coach at Barton County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. While at Barton, he helped guide his team to seven national championships in Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field. Prior to Barton County, Blackwill was the Head Coach at Odessa College in Odessa, Texas. His time there was highlighted by a 5th place finish at the 2002 National Indoor Meet and by a nomination for Coach of the Year.

Other stops on the way to NMJC included being Head Coach at Allen County Community College in Burlingame, Kentucky; Assistant Coach at Odessa College; and Assistant Men’s Coach and Head Women’s Coach at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas. Blackwill has completed 12 years of collegiate coaching, which includes coaching 146 NJCAA All-Americans, 49 National Champions, and seven Indoor/Outdoor National championship teams, and assisting with a National Championship team in Cross Country.

“I believe that New Mexico Junior College is one of the top teams in the nation,”said Blackwill. “Everything that we have accomplished is due to the support of our faculty and staff. NMJC is a great place to continue both academic and athletic careers. With the addition of Assistant Coach Jeff Becker, we should be on the road to a national title.”

Coach Blackwill graduated from Fort State University in Hays, Kansas, where he also competed in Track and Field.

Coach Blackwill graduated and competed in Track and Field at Fort State University in Hays, KS.

Jeff Becker, Women’s Cross Country/Indoor-Outdoor Track Assistant Coach Email>>

Jeff Becker started with the New Mexico Junior College Cross Country/Track and Field program in 2007. As the Assistant Coach he works primarily with the Cross Country program and with the distance and mid-distance runners in Track.

Becker started his coaching career as a student assistant coach at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas while working on his Masters degree. After graduating, he was the Assistant Coach for a year at Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, and then took the job as Head Coach at Colby Community College in Colby, Kansas - a position he held for five years. At CCC Becker coached 24 NJCAA All-Americans and 6 NJCAA National Champions. Becker also coached the current NJCAA meet record holder in the Women’s 10000m run.

Along with his personal honors, the teams Becker has coached have achieved success. His teams have finished as the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year six times, and his 2007 Women’s Indoor Track and Field team finished 7th at the NJCAA meet.

Becker received his education from Fort Hays State University, including a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education (1999) and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science (2001). Becker is also a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach.