Josh Blankenship enters his third season as Head Coach of the Adams State Grizzlies (Fall 2020), after a 2019 campaign that saw a much improved product on the field for Adams State.
In his first season at the helm in 2018, Blankenship's offensive attack was as ferocious as advertised. For the second straight season, senior Chad Hovasse was a Harlon Hill nominee, earning yet another first team All-RMAC selection as well as AP Division II first team All-America honors. His teammate, Marquese Surrell, also earned honorable mention All-American honors as an all purpose player under Blankenship. In addition to their success, running back Tyree Harris went on to break the school's single-season rushing record with 1181 yards on the year. Going into year two under Blankenship, the Grizzlies hope for continued success and improvement moving forward.
After three seasons serving as the offensive coordinator, Blankenship blossomed the Grizzly offense into the top-ranked passing offense and 10th ranked total offensive team in the nation (2017).
As the coach of the offense, Blankenship has coached one First Team All-RMAC player and three Second Team All-RMAC offensive players. He also coached Chad Hovasse to a Harlon Hill Nomination for closing out his junior season as the school record holder in virtually every receiving category and being top-10 in the nation in receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns.
His coaching career began at Union High School located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his hometown where he was an Assistant for 7 years (2003-05 & 2007-10). During this time, under the direction of his father Bill Blankenship, the father and son pairing were able to capture five state championships. After his stint at Union High School, in 2011, Blankenship took the head coaching position for the Roughers of Muskogee High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma. As the head coach and acting Athletic Director of Muskogee High School, Blankenship was able to transform the football program, which only had forty student-athlete participants to over one hundred student-athletes in just three seasons.
After the 2013 season, Blankenship transformed his coaching career from high school to the college level. In 2014, Blankenship was brought as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His purpose was to develop the young quarterbacks brought into the program as well as aid in improving the production of the offense. During the 2014 season, Blankenship helped Tulsa improve to the 4th ranked offense in the conference, prior to a 10th ranked finish the season before.
After one season in Tulsa, Blankenship was hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Grizzlies of Adams State. For three season (2015-17), Blankenship turned one of the worst offenses in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference to the number one ranked passing offense by the end of the 2017 season.
Blankenship’s playing career began at Union High School at the quarterback position. During his senior campaign, he was awarded Oklahoma high school's Offensive Player of the Year. He continued his career by signing to the University of Tulsa. At the conclusion of his freshman season, Blankenship was awarded Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year. After a three year career in Tulsa, Blankenship transferred to Eastern Washington University to finish up his collegiate eligibility. In his final season, Blankenship was awarded Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, as well as an All-American selection.
After college, Blankenship pursued a career playing professional football. In 2003, he signed as a free agent and spent training camp with the Miami Dolphins. After later being released, he continued his career with the brief stint in the CFL (Canadian Football League) for the Edmonton Eskimos before finding a home in the AFL (Arena Football League) playing for the Tulsa Talons, Memphis Xplorers, Stockton Lightning, and Austin Wranglers from 2005-07.
Blankenship obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Eastern Washington University in 2003 and later received his master’s of Education from Northeastern State (Okla.) in 2009.
Blankenship currently resides in Alamosa, Colorado with his wife Lindsay Blankenship and their four children Barrett, Gracie, Deacon, and Stevie.
