Overview
- The school announced the hire on Jan. 9, two days after Jonathan Chandler left to become Opelika’s head coach.
- Blackwell previously led the Knights from 2015 to 2020, posting a 54–19 record and guiding the program to its first state championship game in 2020.
- Since departing, he held head-coaching roles at Benjamin Russell, Jackson Academy (MS) and St. James, and served as Spanish Fort’s offensive coordinator in 2025.
- Spanish Fort’s offense under Blackwell averaged 412.8 yards and 27.8 points per game last season, according to local reporting.
- President Justin Castanza praised the return as a “beautiful homecoming,” and AL.com reports Blackwell’s overall head-coaching record at 80–40.