Union University Athletics

Kristen Blackburn is in her third season as the head coach for Union. She was named the head coach of Union volleyball in February 2023. She spent the 2022 season as the assistant coach, the 2020 and 2021 seasons as a volunteer assistant, and had a four-year playing career for the Lady Bulldogs. Her career record is 16-45 (.262).

2024:  Blackburn led Union to the GSC Championship as the 7-seed after a seventh-place finish in the regular season. The team won five of its last seven matches to earn a tournament appearance. 

2023:  Blackburn won six matches in her first season as head coach, taking over the team in February of 2023.
 
Blackburn (Goggin) played for four years, participating in 370 sets from 2016-19. She was a server specialist, recording 116 aces in her career, including a career-high 50 aces in 2017. She spent most of her career as a defensive specialist and libero, recording 448 career digs, including a career-best 197 in 2017. Blackburn also tacked on 52 kills and 30 assists in her career. 

In the 2022 season as assistant coach, the Union volleyball program posted runner-up finishes in both the GSC Regular Season and Tournament. It was the highest league finish for Union volleyball in both cases since joining the GSC in 2012. Over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Blackburn spent valuable time as a volunteer assistant. She was also a graduate assistant for Union, working in athletic administration for the 2021-22 school year. 

In 2020, Blackburn graduated from Union with a degree in athletic training. She is near completion of her Master's in Education with a concentration in sports management degree from Union. 

Blackburn is from Yucaipa, California where she graduated from Aquinas High school in 2016. During her high school career, she played for several club volleyball championship teams and was named MVP and all-league of her high school team. 

On April 17, 2022, she married Sean Blackburn, the current women's basketball assistant coach at Union. She is the daughter of Walt and Colleen Goggin.

All-Time Coaching Win/Loss Records
Year -- Coach -- Overall Record (Conference Record)
2024 -- Kristen Blackburn -- 10-20 (8-12) (Career:  16-45, .262)
2023 -- Kristen Blackburn -- 6-25 (5-11)
2022 -- Stephen Vick (Interim) -- 22-10 (14-2)
2021 -- Darrin McClure -- 20-13 (11-5) (Career: UU 90-108; .454; Overall 162-254, .389)
2020 -- Darrin McClure -- 6-2 (3-1) (Career:  UU 70-95; .424; Overall 142-241, .370), GSC Tournament Group A #3seed
2019 -- Darrin McClure -- 21-12 (12-4) (Career:  UU 64-93; .408; Overall 136-239, .365) GSC Tournament #4 Seed
2018 -- Darrin McClure -- 7-26 (3-13)
2017 -- Darrin McClure -- 15-16 (5-11) 
2016 -- Darrin McClure -- 11-20 (8-12)
2015 -- Darrin McClure --  10-19 (9-11)  
2014 -- Tripp Swisher -- 8-24 (3-17) (Career: 19-48, .284)
2013 -- Tripp Swisher -- 11-24 (4-14)
2012 -- Christy Mooberry -- 7-28 (1-15) (Career: 7-28, .200)
2011 -- Kelly Elliott -- 15-21 (7-6) (Career: 46-36, .561)
2010 -- Kelly Elliott -- 24-9 (13-1)
2009 -- Kelly Elliott -- 7-6 (2-1)
2009 -- Steven Gream -- 23-4 (7-4) (Career: 122-50, .709)
2008 -- Steven Gream -- 28-7 (10-4)
2007 -- Steven Gream -- 25-11 (12-6)
2006 -- Steven Gream -- 27-10 (10-6)
2005 -- Steven Gream -- 19-18 (4-6)
2004 -- Brian Dunn -- 31-5 (10-0) (Career: 243-62, .797)
2003 -- Brian Dunn -- 41-9 (11-2)
2002 -- Brian Dunn -- 26-13 (7-5)
2001 -- Brian Dunn -- 32-6 (8-2)
2000 -- Brian Dunn -- 35-10 (9-1)
1999 -- Brian Dunn -- 44-6 (11-0)
1998 -- Brian Dunn -- 34-13 (8-3)