LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University Director of Athletics Ron Pavan announces that Women's Basketball head Coach Scott Blum will step down at the end of the 2023-24 season. 

"I want to thank Head Women's Basketball Coach, Scott Blum as he moves on after the women's basketball season," Vice President of Athletics Ron Pavan said. "Coach Blum has been at Cumberland University for the past six years. He has helped our program again be competitive in the NAIA and the Mid-South Conference." 

Coach Blum is in his sixth season at Cumberland and has compiled a 48-89 record with a 4-5 start to this season's campaign. The 2021-22 and 2022-23 teams each finished with a 13-16 record notching the best seasons he has had at CU. 

Since being at Cumberland, Blum has coached one NAIA All-American, one Mid-South Conference Player of the Year, one Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Year, and six student-athletes earned All-Mid-South Conference honors during his tenure. 

Blum's teams have shined off the court continually posting high academic marks in the classroom earning NAIA Scholar-Team honors each of the last three seasons for posting a team grade-point-average of 3.0 or better. He has had 21 NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 46 Mid-South Conference Academic All-Conference selections. 

"I want to thank President Stumb, Dr. McKee, and Ron Pavan for the opportunity I've had these past six years as the head coach of the women's basketball program." Blum said. "I would like to thank all of the coaches we have had on staff here."

"I also want to thank my former and current players for being great students, basketball players, and most importantly, great young people. I pray they all are successful in life. I pray the Lord opens up a door for my next journey."

Before being hired at Cumberland, Blum spent the previous 14 years coaching at his alma mater Grace University leading the Lancers. He also helped lead Indiana Wesleyan's men's team to a NCCAA National Championship as the head coach in 1994-95.

Blum was a highly decorated athlete during his playing days. Blum scored 1,576 career points at Oregon-Davis High School in Hamlet, Ind., and became the only player to have his number retired in school history. 

He then played two years at Valparaiso University before transferring to Grace for his final two seasons, helping the Lancers to a 59-11 record over that span and earning NAIA All-American honors twice and being named the NCCAA Player of the Year.

After his college career, he spent time playing professionally overseas in Spain. He has been elected into the Lancer Hall of Fame, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and most recently the Oregon-Davis Athletic Hall of Fame.