Will Blanden begins his sixth season as an assistant coach with the Huskies in 2018. It will be his third season in charge of the defensive line and he will also serve as the special teams coordinator.
The Huskies recorded 35.5 sacks in 2017, with 20.5 of them coming from the defensive line. Blanden coached Jake Klinger to an outstanding 2017 campaign, as he earned first team all-conference accolades, two different all-region selections and also was a Don Hansen first team All-American. The defensive tackle led the Huskies with career-highs in total tackles (69), tackles for a loss (22.0), and quarterback sacks (11.0). His 22 tackles for a loss surpassed Justin Shirk's 21.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage during the 2014 season and is the most by a Bloomsburg player in at least 18 years. Klinger had 18.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks over the last seven weeks of the regular season. He recorded at least one tackle in all 11 games, at least one tackle for a loss nine times, and at least one sack on six different occasions. He posted a career-best five tackles for a loss in the win at Millersville on September 30 and recorded a career-high three sacks in the win at East Stroudsburg on October 21. Klinger was also named the PSAC East Defensive Player of the Week after posting nine total tackles, four tackles for a loss, two quarterback sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in a 16-point victory over Clarion in the final game of the regular season.
The redshirt junior finished second overall in the PSAC, and led the PSAC East, in both tackles for a loss and sacks during the 2017 campaign.
In 2016, the Huskies registered 25 quarterback sacks with 19.5 of those coming from the defensive line. Redshirt sophomore Chris Gary enjoyed a breakout season under the tutelage of Blanden as he recorded a PSAC-leading 12.5 sacks in 2016 - one shy of the school-record of 13.5 set by Larry Webster in 2012. Gary earned Second Team All-American honors from Don Hansen and is a preseason Second Team All-American by Lindy’s Sports entering the 2017 campaign.
Prior to taking over the defensive line, Blanden oversaw the linebacking corps and, in 2014, Blanden coached the PSAC East Defensive Athlete of the Year, Justin Shirk, at middle linebacker. Shirk went on to win All-American accolades from four different organizations following the season.
Before coming to Bloomsburg, Blanden served as the defensive backs and strength and conditioning coach at Division III Nichols College for two seasons. In his first year with the Bison, he saw free safety Mike Rubalcaba named to 21st Annual Steve ‘Merc’ Morris All-Star Team and selected to participate in the 16th Annual Metrodome All-American Bowl. In his second year, he helped orchestrate a defense that ranked fifth in the league in pass defense, allowing just 173 yards per game. His players also excelled in the classroom as four defensive backs were named to the NEFC Academic All-Conference during his tenure.
Blanden began his coaching career as defensive backs coach at Western Connecticut State in 2009 and spent two seasons with the Colonials. In addition to his responsibilities with the defensive backs, he was in charge of formulating a daily practice script, devising the passing game, screens, draws, and gadgets section of the scouting report, and was the coordinator of the punt return team.
Blanden earned his bachelor of business administration in accounting in 2008 from Howard University before completing his masters of business administration in sports management at Nichols in May 2012. He saw time at quarterback, defensive back, and wide receiver during his career. Blanden also played basketball at Howard during the 2004-05 season. In 2011, he played professionally for the Trenton Steel of the Southern Indoor Football League.
A member of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Blanden was a 2011 NCAA Future Coaches Academy participant, a three-year volunteer (2010-12) at Lauren’s First and Goal Football Camp at Lafayette College, and a two-year volunteer (2011-12) at former New York Jets and Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini’s Youth Football Camp in Hartford, Connecticut.
