JACKSON, Tennessee – Union University has announced Stephen Vick as the interim head coach for the volleyball program for the fall 2022 season.
According to a press release from Steven Aldridge – Union University’s Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communication – Vick will lead the program this fall and Union will begin a new search for the next head coach at the end of the season.
Vick said, “I am humbled and honored to be considered for this interim head coaching position here at Union University. My wife Tracy, our children, and I would like to thank the entire Bulldog family for this opportunity. I would also like to thank Camden Central High School’s administration for allowing me to bring volleyball to our amazing school system in Benton County. As a team, here at Union, we will strive to be the best versions of ourselves on and off the court every single day. We will play hard for our fans and do our best to represent Union University with pride and honor.”
Vick is the former coach of Camden Central High School from 2015-21. While at Camden, he posted a 213-52 record. During those seven years, Camden won six district championships, one region championship, and two sub-state championships. The team also finished runner-up in the region five times and made two trips to the state semifinals. Vick was named the West Tennessee Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2015 and was the District 11-AA Coach of the Year three times.
Before his time at Camden High School, Vick coached volleyball and basketball for 14 years at Camden United Christian Academy. He is a lifetime entrepreneur and holds a professional license in the insurance industry. Vick is the owner and operator of Vick Insurance in Camden and several other business ventures.
Vick played basketball at Union during the 1993-94 season before transferring. He is a 1993 graduate of Camden Central High School, scoring over 1,000 career points and earning district, west Tennessee, and state honors as a senior.
All three of Vick’s children have played sports at Union, including his daughter Jordan Vick, a senior on this year’s volleyball team. Jordan is a two-time All-GSC Conference performer and holds the career record for assists at Union in the D2 era. His oldest son Hunter played two years of basketball at Union, making all-conference as a junior and helping lead the Bulldogs to the second round of nationals last season. His youngest son Garrett is in his second season with the men’s basketball team and is on the GSC Honor Roll.
Vick is married to Tracy Vick and the couple has recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Blackburn named assistant volleyball coach
Union University has named Kristen Blackburn as the next assistant coach for the volleyball program.
According to a press release from Steven Aldridge – Union University’s Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Communication – Blackburn played volleyball at Union and has spent the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach.
Blackburn (Goggin) played for four years participating in 370 sets from 2016-2019. She was a server specialist, recording 116 aces in her career, including a career-high 50 in 2017. She spent most of her career as a defensive specialist and libero, recording 448 career digs, including a career-best 197 in 2017. Blackburn also tacked on 52 kills and 30 assists in her career.
Over the past two seasons, Blackburn has spent valuable time as a volunteer assistant for previous head coach Darrin McClure. She was also a graduate assistant for Union, working in athletic administration.
In 2020, Blackburn graduated from Union with a degree in athletic training. She is near completion of her Master’s in Education with a concentration in sports management degree from Union.
Blackburn is from Yucaipa, California where she graduated from Aquinas High school in 2016. During her high school career, she played for several club volleyball championship teams and was named MVP and all-league of her high school team.
On April 17, 2022, she married Sean Blackburn, the current women’s basketball assistant coach at Union. She is the daughter of Walt and Colleen Goggin.
(PHOTO: Union University volleyball coaches Stephen Vick, Kristen Blackburn)
