CARBONDALE, Ill. —  Southern Illinois University softball coach Kerri Blaylock announced today that she will step away from coaching duties for health reasons but will remain with the program. Long-time assistant coach Jen Sewell, who has served under Blaylock for 14 seasons, will take over as interim head coach.

“I appreciate Saluki Athletics, my coaching staff and my team for allowing me to take some time to work on my health and well being,” Blaylock said.  “I am supremely confident in Jen to step in for me. She has been my right hand for 14 years and has run the coaching side of the program for quite some time. Our staff as a whole with Jen, Kenzi (Bennett) and Maddy (Vermejan) will be able to continue the excellence of Saluki Softball in my absence.”

Although she will not assist in a coaching capacity, Blaylock will continue to handle administrative duties for the program.

“Kerri is a true Saluki legend and one of the giants of collegiate softball,” Kupec said. “Throughout her career, she has made an immeasurable impact upon the lives of her players and coaching staff, and it’s gratifying to know that Saluki softball remains in good hands.”

A native of nearby Herrin, Ill., Blaylock took the reins of the program in 2000. Twenty-two years later, her career record stands at 751-413-1. 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 the course of her first seven years at SIU, she guided the team to five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2003-07). The Salukis remain the only MVC school to accomplish that feat. In total, Southern have made the NCAA Tournament eight times under Blaylock, most recently in 2021 when the Salukis won the program’s third conference tournament title.

Last December, in a vote of her peers, she was enshrined in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame.