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News Release

UMBC NAMES IAN BLANCHARD HEAD WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL COACH

2/14/2005

Ian Blanchard becomes UMBC's fifth head volleyball coach in the program's 32-year history.

Baltimore, Md. – UMBC Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Brown announced today the hiring of Ian Blanchard as the new UMBC Head Women’s Volleyball Coach.  Blanchard has spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Towson University.  Blanchard will begin his position effective immediately.

“Ian Blanchard is a perfect fit to bring the UMBC Volleyball Program back into prominence,” said Dr. Brown.  “In all of Ian’s experiences he has helped bring those programs he has been affiliated with to championship levels and as a coach on his way up we feel he can bring the UMBC Volleyball program back to the championship level.” 

Blanchard during his tenure at Towson was very instrumental in the growth of their program as the Tiger’s first assistant and recruiting coordinator.  Blanchard recruited talented student-athletes both on a local and national level, leading to an NCAA Tournament appearance by the program in the fall of 2004.  

Prior to Towson University Blanchard spent a year (2002) at Catonsville Community College as the head women’s volleyball coach, leading the program to a 24-5 overall record, 12-0 in the conference and ranked 11^th in the nation at the NJCAA Division II level.  Blanchard was honored with NJCAA Region F and Maryland JuCo Coach of the Year accolades.    

In addition to his collegiate experience, Blanchard has made a name for himself at the USAV Club level, directing the Orange Crush of the Time Out Volleyball Club for the past nine seasons.  Blanchard’s team went undefeated in the USAV Chesapeake Region from 2000-2004 and placed fifth in 2003 and third in 2004 at the USAV National Championships.

Blanchard is a former social studies teacher at Dulaney High School where he coached the Baltimore County School to a 90-6 record between 1997-2001, winning back-to-back state titles in 1999 and 2000 and four consecutive final four appearances in the state tournament.  Blanchard was named Maryland State Coach of the Year for 2001-02 and Baltimore Sun Metropolitan Coach of the Year in 1999.

Blanchard owns a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Westfield State College (1988) where he was a four-year member of Westfield State’s men’s volleyball team.  Blanchard went on to earn his Education Certification from the University of Massachusetts in 1992.  Blanchard is certified with USAV Coaching Accreditation Program I & II.      

Blanchard becomes the Retrievers’ fifth volleyball coach in the program’s 32-year history.  Acting head coach Shelbylynn McBride will resume her roll as Assistant Coach with the Retrievers as part of Blanchard’s staff.