Blackmar announces retirement from coaching

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Texas A&M University Corpus Christi head golf coach Carol Blackmar has announced her retirement from coaching. Blackmar has served as the Islanders' head coach for the past 16 seasons and has had two stints as the department's Senior Woman Administrator.
 
"I want to thank coach Blackmar for all her work and contributions to the Islander golf program," said Director of Athletics Scott Lazenby. "She has been a staple of our golf program for 16 years and has helped grow our entire department into what it is today. I want to say thank you to coach for all of her hard work, her leadership and her dedication to making our university better each day. The dedication to the program her and her husband Phil have made these past years will be felt for years to come both here at the university and in the Corpus Christ community."
 
Blackmar took over as the golf coach prior to the 2003 season. Six years later, she helped guide the Islanders to a 2009 Southland Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Regional, the first in program history. In 2011 she was named to the NCAA Division I Golf Championship Committee for the next four years. While she was on the committee, major changes to the championship format were adopted which allowed for the tournament to be broadcasted live on the Golf Channel. Blackmar continues to be active on the committee that runs NCAA regional tournaments.
 
"I want to thank Scott Lazenby for his support of our program," said Blackmar. "I always felt I could go to him with any issues and if any interesting twists came up that he was there to help. There has been so much positive growth in the university and in athletics. The support in the community has been incredible and I think it is only going to get better. I also want to say thank you to all of our golf student-athletes who have played here. They performed amazingly in both the classroom and in the community. It has been an honor to be there to watch them grow and compete."
 
A native of Richardson, Texas, Blackmar lettered four years in golf at the University of Texas and competed in four Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Championships. After winning the 1980 conference title, Blackmar's team became the first women's sport at the University of Texas to light the tower, an annual tradition for Longhorn teams that win a championship.
 
Blackmar is planning on spending more time with her family and will continue to follow and support Islander Athletics.