Austin Kirby enters his fifth season leading the Blackburn College Men’s Basketball Team. 

Taking over the team for the 2019-20 season, Kirby helped guide the Beavers to a second place finish in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference on their way to reaching the SLIAC Tournament semifinals. 

The next season saw Kirby lead Blackburn to their first SLIAC Championship since the 2005-06 season and first SLIAC Tournament Championship since 2004-05. Kirby received the leagues Coach of the Year award as well as being named the Central Region Coach of the Year and the IBCA Division III Coach of the Year. 

Kirby guided the Beavers to a second-straight SLIAC Tournament Championship and once again was named the IBCA Division III Coach of the Year. 

In the 22-23 season, he coached the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year. 

During his tenure, Kirby guided players to a variety of awards. He has mentored an Honorable Mention All-American and a Central All-Region Selection plus a SLIAC Player of the Year and two SLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Players. He has led four First Team All-SLIAC selections, one Second Team All-SLIAC selection and four Third Team All-SLIAC selections. Two of his players have earned SLIAC 6th Man of the Year honors with five making SLIAC All-Tournament teams and four earning All-Defensive Team distinction. 

Prior to taking over the team, Kirby served as an assistant coach here he assisted in scouting, film breakdown, player development, operations, recruiting and was the Head JV Coach, starting in the 2015-16 season. For two seasons, he was also a student at Blackburn, where he graduated in 2017 while majoring in Sports Management. 

Kirby currently resides in Carlinville, Illinois with his wife Marlee, the Blackburn Volleyball Coach along with their daughter.