May 14, 2002

SCOTT BLOUNT JOINS LADY VOL SOCCER STAFF AS GOALKEEPR COACH

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Former Furman goalkeeper Scott Blount was named the goalkeeper coach at the University of Tennessee becoming the seventh former Paladin to enter the collegiate coaching profession.

Blount will join Samantha Baggett in helping head coach Angela Kelly prepare the Orange and White for the 2002 campaign. Tennessee is coming off an 11-6-1 overall record and a season in which it advanced to the NCAA Tournament field for the first time in the program's existence.

"Scott is one of the most passionate young goalkeeper coaches I have ever met," said Kelly. "Hailing from the Nashville area, his blood definitely runs orange. I am extremely excited to add him to our staff, he possesses qualities that made him the obvious choice for the position."

A three-time Goalkeeper of the Year in the Southern Conference at Furman University between 1999-2001, Blount will arrive at UT after serving as a volunteer goalkeeper coach at his alma mater this spring. A three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Academic All-American, he earned honorable mention All-America accolades from College Soccer News last fall after backstopping the Paladins to their fourth straight SoCon regular season crown, their third consecutive SoCon Tournament title and the squad's third NCAA appearance in a row.

In February, Blount was selected by the Atlanta Silverbacks with the 10th pick of the first round of the 2002 A-League College Player Draft. A native of Brentwood, Tenn., Blount was also named to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-America Men's Soccer second team. A business administration and economics double major, he graduated cum laude from Furman with a 3.47 grade point average in '01.

Blount has also served as the goalkeeper coach for the Golden Strip Soccer Club ('99) and the Music City Lady Sting ('96, '97) and has been the head goalkeeper instructor at Furman's soccer camps since 1999. In addition, he was invited to a tryout for the Under-20 U.S. National Team in 1997, but was unable to participate due to a broken foot.