John Blackburn took over the Coker Men's and Women's Tennis program in the summer of 2002. Blackburn came to the Cobras from Palm Beach Atlantic College in Florida.

    Blackburn turned the Palm Beach Atlantic College program around in the short time he was there. The women’s team progressed from never posting a winning record to earning a national ranking as high as #11 in the country. 

    The men’s team had never won a match before Blackburn’s arrival and he led them to a 21^st ranking nationally. Blackburn has coached two second-team NAIA Women’s All-Americans, a Women’s NAIA Academic All-American, and four men’s individual nationally ranked players.

Prior to his time in Florida, Blackburn, a native Oklahoman, played tennis at NAIA power Oklahoma Christian University. After graduating he moved on to get his Master of Arts degree in history from Oklahoma State University and while there worked as an assistant coach on the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s tennis teams.