SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has named Blaine Powell its director of football operations and director of field maintenance as the Pomeroys begin their first season of full-weight NAIA football.

Powell, who enters his fifth season as SMWC's head football coach in 2026, will continue to lead the Pomeroy football program while overseeing its development and day-to-day operations. He will also oversee the development and operations of the College's women's flag football program, which has begun recruiting and will start competition in spring 2028.

The announcement coincides with a milestone day for SMWC football. The Pomeroys will hold their first official practice as a full-weight NAIA program Tuesday, Aug. 4, as they prepare for their inaugural season in the Mid-States Football Association.

"Blaine has been instrumental in building football at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College from its beginning, and he is the right person to lead the program into this next chapter," SMWC Associate Vice President for Athletics Kevin Lanke said. "His leadership has helped create a championship culture, and his expanded responsibilities will allow him to continue strengthening our football program while supporting the growth of women's flag football and the development of our athletic facilities. Blaine understands the importance of creating an outstanding experience for our student-athletes while also caring for the facilities that serve our teams and the broader community."

As director of field maintenance, Powell will oversee the playing surface at McMahon Field, the home of Pomeroy football and soccer. He will also oversee the football and soccer practice fields and assist with maintenance of the SMWC softball playing surface.

McMahon Field is a multipurpose football and soccer facility named in honor of donors Anita McMahon '61 and Michael McMahon. The facility was developed as the final phase of a series of campus projects supported by the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, commonly known as READI.

SMWC received a portion of a $1.5 million READI grant through the Wabash River Regional Development Authority to support athletic and equine facility improvements. The College's existing soccer game field was upgraded into a combination football and soccer venue, while a portion of the funding was used to add a football practice field on the north athletic campus.

McMahon Field also features Schmidt Press Box, named in recognition of a gift from Jerry and Marcia Schmidt '72. The investment in the facility is expected to provide opportunities for SMWC to host additional middle school, high school, collegiate and community events.

Powell will also provide administrative oversight for the women's flag football program. SMWC announced the addition of the sport in 2026, with the first team scheduled to begin competition in spring 2028.

Women's flag football has continued to grow at the high school and collegiate levels since the first NAIA programs began competition in 2021. SMWC has already started recruiting for the program as it prepares for its inaugural season.

Lane Sluder '26 will serve as the first head coach of the SMWC women's flag football team. Sluder was a four-year captain of the Pomeroy sprint football program and has coached youth flag football for five years. He earned a bachelor's degree in education from SMWC and is pursuing a Master of Sport Leadership at the College.

Powell was named the first head football coach in SMWC history April 25, 2022. He led the Pomeroys through four seasons in the Midwest Sprint Football League before guiding the program's transition to full-weight NAIA competition.

Powell closed SMWC's sprint football era by leading the Pomeroys to the most accomplished season in program history in 2025.

SMWC finished with a perfect 8-0 record, securing the program's first undefeated season. The Pomeroys completed the championship campaign with a 33-6 victory over Calumet College of St. Joseph in the MSFL championship game.

The title was the second in program history, while SMWC advanced to the MSFL championship game in each of its four seasons competing in sprint football.

Following the season, Powell was named the MSFL Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. SMWC earned 20 all-conference selections, including five first-team honorees, eight second-team selections and seven honorable-mention recipients.

Under Powell's leadership, the Pomeroys compiled a 28-4 overall record during their four sprint football seasons. SMWC captured the inaugural MSFL championship in 2022 before closing its sprint football era with another title in 2025.

The Pomeroys appeared in the MSFL championship game in each of their four seasons and completed their time in the league with a perfect 13-0 road record.

Powell now leads the program into its next chapter as SMWC begins full-weight NAIA competition as a member of the Mid-States Football Association.

Before arriving at SMWC, Powell served as the head football coach at Sullivan High School from 2017 through 2021.

Powell compiled a 39-16 overall record with the Golden Arrows, producing a .709 winning percentage. Sullivan went 17-7 in Western Indiana Conference play during his tenure.

He guided Sullivan to the outright WIC championship in 2017 and a share of the WIC Gold Division title in 2021. In 2020, Powell led the Golden Arrows to the first sectional championship in program history.

Before becoming Sullivan's head coach, Powell spent 10 years as an assistant coach with the program. He served as a position coach and spent seven seasons working as either the offensive or defensive coordinator.

Powell also coached at Sullivan Middle School and Linton-Stockton High School, his alma mater. He was a four-year football player at Linton-Stockton.

Powell graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in spring 2025. He also attended the University of Southern Indiana, Lincoln Trail College and Vincennes University.