He was employed as a steelworker for two years before enrolling at Wilmington College where he played football, basketball and baseball.

In World War II, Blackburn joined the Navy physical education program at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Blackburn became Dayton's first full-time basketball coach in 1947, inheriting a moribund team that had won seven total games over the previous two seasons.

Blackburn's insistence on strict discipline within his program helped lift Dayton to national prominence in the following years.

Blackburn fell ill with cancer during the 1963–64 season, but coached the Flyers through all but the final three games before stepping down.