Jim Buckalew
Rowing Coach  

Coach Buckalew returned to coach the University of Charleston Women’s Crew in 2004. Previously, he coached from 1977 -1993 and again from 1999-2000. Coach Buckalew has had two gold medal crews in Dad Vail Regatta events and several crews which medaled with silver and bronze. He has served as President of the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association since 1986.

Coach Buckalew is employed full time at the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston. He previously served the University of Charleston as Men’s Tennis Coach, Women’s Assistant Basketball Coach, Intramural Director, Athletic Director, and Chairman of the Department of Physical Education and Health.

Coach Buckalew served the United States Rowing Association for 10 years in the role of Field Service Coordinator for the Southeast Region, then the Southeast and Mid Atlantic Regions, and then added the Midwest Region before being named the Director of Field Service. He is a USRowing Certified Coach, a Licensed Rowing Official and an annual Level I Coaching instructor at the USRowing Convention and a regional Level I and II Coaching clinician.

Coach Buckalew has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Charleston and a Master of Science in Professional Physical Education from West Virginia University. He has teacher certification in both Physical Education and Special Education. He is married with two daughters.

Andy Blackwood 
Volunteer Assistant Coach

After serving 13 years as a mathematics professor and coordinator of the Regents B.A. program (a nontraditional bachelor's degree program) 
at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Andy became the full-time executive director of the National Youth Science 
Foundation in 2004. He has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership Studies from West Virginia University, a M.S. in Mathematics from Virginia 
Tech, and a B.S. in mathematics and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Charleston, where he was a member of the varsity rowing 
team for four years (earning the 'Outstanding Sportsperson of the Year' award in 1988). He enjoys rowing, biking, and caving. For ten 
years, Andy volunteered as a canine search and rescue team member; responding to more than 100 lost person incidents throughout West 
Virginia and adjacent states with his two dogs, Cass and Elsa. Andy now focuses his volunteer time to serving as a U.S. Rowing Referee and assisting with the University’s Rowing program. Andy is married (to Holly, a University of Charleston rowing alumnus), and has three daughters: Catherine, Molly, and Madelene.