Sept. 6, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State University Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell announced on Wednesday morning that the WSSU Department of Athletics has extended the contract of Head Football Coach Kermit Blount for three more years, taking him through the 2010 season.

Blount's current contract took him through the 2007 season and with the extension, will ensure that he remains the head football coach at Winston-Salem State University for the next four seasons.

In his 14^th season with the Rams, Blount has posted a 78-58-3 overall record at WSSU and led the Rams to back-to-back CIAA Championships in 1999 and 2000.

Blount, WSSU's first head football coach to lead the Rams into Division I play has established himself as one of the premiere coaches in all of college football. 

"As we continue along in this transition to Division I, one of the things that we value the most is stability, and extending Coach Blount's contract for the next three years will help us to do that.  He is a proven winner and we have now ensured that he will be our head football coach through the 2010 season." WSSU Director of Athletics, Dr. Chico Caldwell said.

"This three-year extension makes Coach Blount's contract the same as our other high-profile coaches as his contract, as well as the contracts of our head men's basketball and head women's basketball coaches, are all in effect through the 2010 season.  This provides us with the stability and direction that will be necessary to build successful teams as we transition to the highest level of intercollegiate athletics in NCAA Division I" Caldwell added.

Coach Blount began his coaching career at Armstrong Kennedy High School in Richmond, Virginia as a quarterbacks coach and assistant offensive coordinator.  Then in 1983, he became a graduate assistant and assistant quarterbacks coach at East Carolina University.  Following his stint with the Pirates, Blount moved on to Washington D.C. and Howard University where he assumed the responsibilities of offensive coordinator from 1984-89 under head coach Willie Jefferies.  Soon after his arrival in the nation's capital, Coach Blount's presence was felt as he directed a potent Bison offense to the 1987 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship.  He would spend four more years as part of Jefferies' staff at South Carolina State University (MEAC) before returning to his alma mater, Winston-Salem State University, as the head coach in 1993.

Since his arrival back in Winston-Salem, Blount has amassed a mark of 78-58-3 (.561), including three CIAA Championship appearances, two CIAA titles, and two Pioneer Bowl appearances.  In addition, he was honored as the 1999 and 2000 CIAA Coach of the Year, D.C. Pigskin Coach of the Year and 100% Wrong Club Coach of the Year.

As a quarterback at WSSU, Blount guided the Rams to back-to-back CIAA titles in 1977 and 1978 earning all-conference honors along the way.  The 1978 All-American sat atop the WSSU record books for more than 20 years before his 3,330 career passing yards were recently surpassed by Joshua McGee in 2004.

Coach Blount will lead the Rams in action on Saturday, September 6, 2006 at 6:00 pm in the Hall of Fame Game versus South Carolina State University at Bowman Gray Stadium.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Sports Information at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com

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