McKendree University men's basketball Head Coach George Suggs announced Tuesday the addition of Lawrence 'Trend' Blackledge as an assistant coach for the 2021-22 season. Blackledge joins the Bearcats after serving as the assistant coach for Adams State University.

"Coach Blackledge will be a tremendous resource for our student-athletes and for McKendree University," said Suggs. "His experience playing professionally all over the world, along with his deep-rooted connections to basketball in southern Illinois make him an ideal fit for our program. His commitment to developing our team goes beyond basketball, and he will be an integral part of our program's success, both on and off of the court."

"I'm very honored for this opportunity to join the McKendree University men's basketball program," said Blackledge. "It is a privilege to be a coach at an institution with great basketball history."

During his time at Adams State University, Blackledge was tasked with coaching the perimeter players and preparing scouts for their opponents. In his role as assistant, he oversaw equipment ordering and inventory, management of the locker and training rooms, coordinated recruiting, admissions, and academic support services, and managed player relations for the Grizzlies.

Prior to his time at Adams State University, Blackledge served one season as the men's basketball assistant coach at Southwestern Illinois Community College (2019-20) where he was an integral part in recruiting. In addition to reviewing and collaborating game film with the team, Blackledge developed and managed individual player's workouts, analyzed the player's and team's statistics, and monitored student-athletes in all athletic and academic-related activities.

Before his coaching career, Blackledge was a professional basketball player in Japan and Canada (2009-18). He competed with the following programs:
- BC Titans, Vancouver, Canada (2009-10)
- Evessa Osaka (2010-12)
- Iwate Big Bulls, Iwate Japan (2012-15)
- Evessa Osaka (2015-16)
- Ehime Orange Vikings, Ehime Japan (2016-17)
- Iwate Big Bulls, Iwate Japan (2017-18)

Blackledge earned his Associates of Arts Degree from Southwestern Illinois Community College in 2006, and his B.A in Communication from Marquette University in 2009.