Mr. Suni Blackwell Inducted into Chester High School Athletic Hall of Fame

Director of Athletics Suni Blackwell was recently inducted into the Chester High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Suni started his sports journey at the age of 6 playing football, baseball and basketball in his hometown of Chester and continued on to great success and acclaim at the high school and collegiate levels. After Chester High, Suni attended West Chester University and graduated with a degree in liberal studies as well as a minor in secondary and elementary education. He played basketball for WCU.

 

How did you become an Athletic Director? 

Being a student-athlete in college, I was intrigued by how the games were set up. I wondered who did all this stuff. I asked my coaches and they pointed me to my Athletic Director. I asked the Athletic Director at my school what he did, how he led all the athletic programs, and the different Athletic Director positions. If there was anything I would do if I didn’t make it in basketball to the next level, it was this job. I went to Temple University and got an MED concentrating in sports and recreational administration. I interned with the Philly 76ers and was the recipient of a pilot minority grant program for NCAA Division III. My first job was at Drew University as an athletic coordinator and assistant men’s basketball coach. Other athletic departments I've led have been Cristo Rey Philadelphia, Delaware County Community College and the Cheltenham School District. My coaching experience comes from Drew University, Chester High School and Cristo Rey.

 

Football and baseball. I played three sports in my high school career: football, basketball and baseball. I played college basketball as well.

 

It’s humbling as well as exciting. When you look at the history of athletics in Chester, a lot of really good student athletes come from that city; being recognized as one of those student athletes is an honor for me. 

 

How did you place in high school and college?