Jen Sewell promoted to head coach; Kerri Blaylock announces retirement
05/16/2022 | 2:27:00 | Softball
Legendary Southern Illinois softball coach Kerri Blaylock has officially passed the torch to longtime assistant coach Jen Sewell. SIU Director of Athletics Matt Kupec announced Blaylock's retirement and Sewell's promotion during a press conference with both coaches on Monday.
Sewell took over as interim head coach on March 2, 2022 after Blaylock stepped aside for health reasons. Sewell is just the third head coach in program history. Blaylock took the reins of the program in 2000 from Dr. Kay Brechtelsbauer. On April 25, 2021, she passed baseball coach Itchy Jones for the most wins by a head coach - male or female - in school history. During her 22 years as head coach, the Salukis made eight NCAA Tournament appearances, finished in the top-10 nationally in Team GPA more times than any other program in the nation and posted a stellar 751-413-1 record.
"What is so special about this place is that Jen will be the third head coach in the history of this program," Blaylock said. "Coach Brechtelsbauer was such a mentor to me and she passed the torch to me when she felt it was the right time. Now I feel its the right time to pass the torch to Jen. She's been a loyal soldier here with me and has passed up several opportunities to coach at other places to remain here because she loves this place. I can't think of anyone more that I would want to have the job."
Sewell will begin her 15th year at Southern Illinois University in 2023. She spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant before spending the last 11 as Blaylock's associate head coach. The Salukis went 21-13-1 after Sewell took over as interim head coach on March 2, 2022.Â
"I'm not sure I have the words right now," Sewell said. "It will probably hit me in a few weeks. I don't know of another program with only two head coaches and this much winning, but it speaks to the stability of SIU and the consistency of support in our athletic department for our program. This is the house that Dr. Charlotte West, Dr. Kay Brechtelsbauer, and Kerri Blaylock built. I am very aware of that. It's an honor that gives me the chills. This is a dream job."
During her time at SIU, the Salukis have advanced to the NCAA postseason three times, which includes a pair of MVC Tournament titles. Southern won the 2021 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title after it defeated Northern Iowa, 2-0 in the MVC Championship game to earn SIU's third appearance to a NCAA Regional in the last five seasons.
"Watching Kerri manage the entirety of our program was incredible," Sewell said. "It was sun up to sun down. Every time the game evolved - she evolved with it. Recruiting is the lifeblood of this program and we saw very eye to eye about the players we could get here. Don't tell either one of us that we can't get a certain player to come here because we will go sign them anyway. We recruit right alongside the big dogs. Players come here for the culture, for the player development, and for the magic that happens here. Kerri taught me about player relationships and about creating chemistry. The talk was never about winning - it was about people and about taking care of human beings. The outcome of that is winning. Kerri let me touch every part of this program and I thank her for that. Offense, defense, scouting, recruiting, pitch calling - I've done it all."
The Salukis hold a .606 (457-294-2) winning percentage since Sewell arrived in 2008 and have won at least 30 games in 11 of the 14 completed seasons in which she has been on staff.Â
Sewell has transformed SIU into one of the best hitting teams in the MVC. In 2022, the Salukis broke the school record for on-base percentage and led the league in batting average for the second time in the last three full seasons. Southern has finished top-15 nationally in on-base percentage twice in the last three full seasons and will finish the 2022 season ranked top-10 nationally in walks drawn.
"We will be fundamentally sound in offense, defense and pitching," Sewell said. "Period. We will continue to expect the postseason and we will prepare for it every year. I want opposing teams to get all of us, to have to play their best softball to get a win away from us. I like fiery teams with big energy and a healthy respect for the game. I love players that are well prepared, expect to win and have a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Despite all this program has already accomplished, there are still mountains to climb here - another NCAA Regional finals appearance, possibly a Supers appearance. We want to be the first Valley school into the Supers."
During the 2018 offseason, Sewell was named the recipient of the NFCA's Donna Newberry 'Perseverance' award, which recognizes an NFCA member coach who has demonstrated extraordinary strength of will and character in the fight to overcome a physical, mental, or social adversity that presented an additional challenge to the already demanding job of a coach. Sewell's was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in 2011 and continues to overcome adversity and help SIU reach new heights. In 2020, Sewell was honored with the MVC's Most Courageous Award, presented to past or present student-athletes, coaches or university administrators who demonstrate unusual courage in the face of personal illness, adversity or tragedy and whose behavior reflects honor on the institution or the Conference.Â