Malcolm Blacken is entering his third season as Senior Director of Player Development after serving seven seasons as Director of Player Development for Washington. Blacken was named to the elevated position on January 9, 2020.
Blacken's hiring served to start his third stint with Washington after having previously served as a strength and conditioning coach for Washington on two occasions (1996-2000 and 2010). In his last season in Washington in 2010, Blacken was responsible for as- sisting with all aspects of the Redskins' strength and conditioning program.
In his current role, Blacken guides the development and education of Washington players as it pertains to both their personal and professional lives. His guidance covers topics including but not limited to: financial education; healthy and unhealthy relationships; total wellness and mental health; league policies on substance abuse, performance enhancing drugs and personal conduct; social responsibility; social media; decision making; stress and time management; team history and tradition; and the expectations of being a player in the National Football League.
In addition, Blacken works hand-in-hand with Washington 's Charitable Foundation and was a principal figure in instituting the team's Rookie Community Club, which annually takes the team's rookies and immediately integrates them into the Washington, D.C. area community through a series of service efforts. He also provides assistance with continuing education and offers guidance for players' academic pursuits.
From 2011-12, Blacken served as Director of Speed, Strength & Conditioning for the University of Colorado. He worked directly with the football program on a day-to-day basis while overseeing the speed, strength and conditioning needs of all 16 of Colorado's varsity programs.
In between his first two stops in Washington, Blacken spent nine years as the Detroit Lions' strength and conditioning coach from 2001-09. Blacken was an assistant strength coach for the University of Virginia's football program in 1995 and worked with all other sports in the Cavaliers' athletic department as well. For three years (1992-94), Blacken served as the head strength and conditioning coach for George Mason University, where he oversaw the program for all of the university's varsity sports.
Blacken began his coaching career at the University of South Carolina in 1990-91 as the football program's assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Blacken graduated from Virginia Tech in 1989 with bachelor's degrees in art and physical education. He was a Hokies running back from 1984-88 and was a four-time letter winner. While at Virginia Tech, Blacken was a two-time winner of the Super Iron Hokie Award (1987-88), which is given yearly to the football program's strongest player at each position.
Off the field, Blacken is an accomplished artist whose paintings have been displayed across the country. Recently, he participated in the 2016 NFLPA Smocks and Jocks art auction in Houston for Super Bowl LI and the 2019 NFLPA Smocks and Jocks art auction in
Atlanta for Super Bowl LIII, with proceeds donated to the retired players fund. More about Blacken's art can be accessed by visiting ArtByMalcolm.com.
Blacken currently resides in Ashburn, Virginia, with his wife, Marcy. The couple has two children, Maya and Bo.
