John Blackgrove

Assistant Coach
First Season
Fairleigh Dickinson University, 2007

Blackgrove began his duties as assistant coach on July 31, 2007, becoming the lead assistant under UNH's third-year head coach Al Seibert.

Blackgrove is a recent graduate, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2007.  He previously attended Fordham University, where he played two seasons (2003 and 2004) before transferring to FDU.  Blackgrove was the New Jersey Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2001.

"John comes to UNH with an impressive playing background at the Division I level," Seibert said.  "In addition to his time as a student-athlete, he has an equally impressive background with his understanding of the game. John has been mentored by Bob Hill, who coached several NBA teams, and Tom Green at FDU, where he served as a student assistant coach.  John is terrific at player development and is one of the brightest young coaches in the business. He will help our program immensely, with his strong passion and love for the game.  He has a tremendous future in this business for many years to come."

At Fordham, Blackgrove was an Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason All-Rookie team selection and averaged 9.2 points with a team-high 53 three-pointers made in his freshman season under head coach Bob Hill.  He averaged 14.2 points and 2.2 rebounds in 10 games as a sophomore before an injury ended his season.

"As a player, John was a student of the game.  He was a sponge!," said Hill, who has been head coach of four NBA teams and led the San Antonio Spurs to 62 wins and a berth in the Western Conference Finals in 1995.  "John wanted to know everything all the time.  He used to show up in my office between class to talk basketball or watch video.  If he continues to study and work like he did when he was with me, the sky is the limit for him.  It will be fun for me to watch his progress."

After sitting out the 2005 campaign under Division I transfer rules, Blackgrove played in 22 games as a junior in 2006 when Fairleigh Dickinson went 20-12 overall.  He served as a student assistant under FDU head coach Tom Green in 2007.

While a student at FDU, Blackgrove also served as head coach for the River Vale, N.J., 5th and 6th grade recreation basketball programs as well as Director of the River Vale Hoop Academy.  He worked as a coach for Green's Fairleigh Dickinson Basketball Camp for three summers, and was a coach at Pascack Valley High School in Hillsdale, N.J.