By Jerry Briggs
Special for The JB Replay

Former UTSA track and field coach James Blackwood passed away Thursday at the age of 84, according to a news story on the athletic department website.

Blackwood was a member of the UTSA track and field coaching staff for nine seasons from 1999-2000 to 2007-08. He spent the last seven seasons as head coach of the women’s program.

With the Roadrunners, he coached a pair of All-Americans in East Central High School graduate Ryanne Dupree — a four-time honoree and the 2006 Southland Conference Athlete of the Year — and Rhonda Ray.

He also had more than 60 all-conference performers and more than 25 conference champions.

A long-time former high school coach in the state, Blackwood worked for 12 years in the 1970s and ’80s as an assistant track coach at the University of Texas.

He was married to Susan Blackwood, a former executive director at San Antonio Sports, a key figure who helped the city host amateur sports competitions.