BLUEBLACKS MAKE HISTORY, NAME JACI MERCHANT FIRST GENERAL MANAGER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY

Merchant becomes the first woman to hold the General Manager position for the Kokomo Blueblacks and will lead the club’s football operations while contributing to key areas of business operations and organizational growth.

KOKOMO, IN — The Kokomo Blueblacks Football Club is proud to announce a historic addition to its executive leadership team with the appointment of Jaci Merchant as General Manager.

Merchant becomes the first General Manager in Kokomo Blueblacks franchise history and, with her appointment, the first woman to serve as General Manager of the organization.

For the Blueblacks, this appointment represents far more than filling an executive position. It represents another major step in establishing the professional infrastructure, leadership standards, accountability, and long-term vision necessary to build the organization the right way.

Merchant will assume a significant leadership role within the club, overseeing the football operations side of the Kokomo Blueblacks while also working alongside ownership and executive leadership in select areas of the organization’s business operations.

The Blueblacks have placed their full confidence in Merchant to help lead the next chapter of the franchise.

A HISTORIC FIRST FOR THE BLUEBLACKS

Every organization reaches moments that ultimately become part of its history.

For the Kokomo Blueblacks, the appointment of its first General Manager is one of those moments.

As the organization continues laying its foundation, ownership believed it was critical that the first person to occupy the General Manager position possess more than football knowledge. The club wanted a leader capable of helping build an entire operation, establishing standards, developing relationships, making difficult decisions, communicating effectively across departments, and understanding the responsibility that comes with helping shape a young franchise.

Merchant will now have the opportunity to put her mark on the Blueblacks from the beginning.

Her appointment is also significant as she becomes the first woman to lead the club from the General Manager position.

The Blueblacks believe leadership should ultimately be defined by ability, preparation, character, work ethic, communication, accountability, and results. Merchant has earned the organization's confidence to take on one of the most important leadership positions within the franchise.

The General Manager will serve as an important connection between ownership, football operations, coaches, players, and organizational leadership.

The objective is clear: build a football operation capable of competing at a high level while maintaining the professionalism and accountability expected from anyone representing the Kokomo Blueblacks.

MORE THAN A FOOTBALL POSITION

Merchant's responsibilities will not stop at the football side of the organization.

The modern General Manager must understand that successful sports organizations require alignment between what happens on the field and what happens behind the scenes.

Merchant will therefore work alongside Blueblacks executive leadership in select areas of business operations, organizational development, partnerships, community relations, planning, and overall club growth.

That involvement will allow the football and business sides of the organization to remain connected as the Blueblacks continue growing their presence throughout Kokomo and the surrounding community.

Whether the conversation involves player personnel, organizational planning, community initiatives, operational needs, sponsorship opportunities, game-day execution, or the long-term direction of the franchise, Merchant will have an important voice at the table.

“WE BELIEVE IN HER 100 PERCENT”

For Blueblacks ownership, appointing the franchise's first General Manager required finding someone they could trust with tremendous responsibility.

That confidence is exactly what the organization has in Merchant.

“Jaci isn't being brought into this organization simply to hold a title. We are giving her real responsibility and a real opportunity to help lead and build the Kokomo Blueblacks. We believe in her 100 percent. She will have a major role on our football operations side while also being involved in key areas of our business operation. As we continue building this organization, I want strong people around me who are willing to work, make decisions, communicate, hold people accountable, and believe in the vision. We believe Jaci can be that kind of leader for the Blueblacks.”

— J.R. Robinson, President & CEO, Kokomo Blueblacks

The organization intends to give Merchant the resources, support, and authority necessary to succeed while maintaining direct collaboration between the General Manager and ownership.

The goal is not simply to create another layer of management.

The goal is to create leadership infrastructure.

BUILDING A CHAMPIONSHIP-CALIBER ORGANIZATION

The Kokomo Blueblacks have consistently maintained that building a winning football team requires more than putting talented athletes on a field.

Winning organizations are built through structure.

They are built through preparation.

They are built through accountability.

They are built by identifying the right players, coaches, executives, staff members, partners, and community supporters and bringing those individuals together behind one standard.

Merchant will be charged with helping establish that standard throughout football operations.

That means evaluating not only whether a player can play, but whether that individual fits the culture of the organization.

It means creating expectations for coaches and football personnel.

It means developing systems that allow the organization to become more efficient.

It means communicating clearly between football leadership and ownership.

And it means remaining focused on both immediate competitive objectives and the long-term health of the franchise.

The expectation inside the organization is not simply to participate.

The expectation is to build a winner.

DEVELOPING PLAYERS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES

Player development will also remain an important component of the Blueblacks football philosophy.

The organization wants athletes who enter the Kokomo Blueblacks program to have an opportunity to develop both on and off the field.

Under Merchant's leadership, football operations will continue working to identify talented athletes, provide a structured football environment, maintain quality film and player information, develop relationships throughout the football industry, and help deserving players pursue opportunities at higher levels when those opportunities become available.

The Blueblacks want players to understand that joining the organization comes with expectations, but also with an organization committed to helping its athletes maximize their opportunities.

ONE ORGANIZATION. ONE STANDARD.

One of Merchant's most important responsibilities will be helping maintain alignment throughout the organization.

Football operations cannot operate independently from the rest of the club.

Business operations cannot succeed without a quality football product.

Marketing cannot succeed without compelling stories.

Sponsorship cannot succeed without strong relationships and professional execution.

Game-day operations cannot succeed without preparation.

Community engagement cannot succeed without people committed to representing Kokomo the right way.

The Blueblacks are building every department around the belief that everyone contributes to the success of the organization.

Merchant will now become one of the individuals responsible for helping connect those pieces.

A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS

There will only ever be one first General Manager in Kokomo Blueblacks history.

That distinction now belongs to Jaci Merchant.

But the organization understands that history is not made by a title alone.

It will be made through the work that follows.

The decisions.

The relationships.

The players brought into the organization.

The culture established inside the locker room and front office.

The standards maintained when nobody is watching.

The way adversity is handled.

And ultimately, the results produced on and off the football field.

The Blueblacks are excited to welcome Merchant into this historic position and even more excited about what comes next.

The organization has entrusted her with an opportunity to help shape the future of the franchise from its foundation.

And she has the full support of the Kokomo Blueblacks organization as she begins that mission.

WELCOME TO THE BLUEBLACKS, JACI MERCHANT.

General Manager
Kokomo Blueblacks Football Club

First General Manager in Franchise History.
First Woman General Manager in Franchise History.
A New Chapter in Blueblacks Football.

KOKOMO BLUEBLACKS FOOTBALL

Build the Standard. Build the Culture. Build a Winner.