Delaware State Athletics recently announced a national search process to hire a new head coach to lead the Hornets’ baseball program.
JP Blandin’s hard work this past season and his dedication to the Hornets provided steady leadership during his twenty-four years as head coach, but retired at the end of the 2024 season.
The program only had six prior head coaches. Since then, Delaware State baseball has become synonymous with a commitment to hard work and sacrifice, competitive success, a national brand, and development to the next level with continued success with 15 drafted players by Major League Baseball.
The last player drafted from Delaware State was Trey Page taken by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round, 515 overall pick, in 2023.
Hornet baseball is grounded in excellence with a commitment to playing the game the right way. The fan base is extraordinary.
The athletic department is excited to embark on a national search to identify the next leader of its baseball program who will lead them to compete in post-season tournaments.
The team is a member of the Northeast Conference (NEC). Through the 2022 season, the Hornets competed in the school’s full-time home of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), but after that season, the MEAC merged its baseball league into that of the NEC. Delaware State and the three other MEAC members who sponsored baseball became NEC associate members in that sport.
Since 2001, Delaware State has made 20 post-season appearances in the MEAC and one in the NEC this past season.
But the underlying question remains… who is hired next; who is a good fit for the program?
According to the athletic department, many have expressed interest. That’s great news! But as often stated, athletic directors and administrators need to figure out which coaches will be a good fit, especially with less than 6 weeks of summer weather and campuses opening, a new coach needs to be in place before the start of the fall ball schedule.
The best candidate for the Hornets job in my opinion is Ty Blankmeyer, Duke University assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
Blankmeyer’s father is the legendary coach Ed Blankmeyer, who won over 800 games and was named the Big East Coach of the Year eight times during his 24 years as the head coach of St. John’s University. Ty played collegiately at St. John’s and was a 36th-round draft choice by the Cincinnati Reds in 2016.
Coach Blankmeyer played one year professionally before spending four years as the Milwaukee Brewers’ northeast area scout. Most notably, he went on to spend one year at Wake Forest on its coaching staff before being named an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Duke in the summer of 2022.
An outstanding recruiter, Blankmeyer has played an integral part in some of Duke’s most notable signees. He brings an infectious energy to the ballpark and is particularly knowledgeable when it comes to infield defense. Blankmeyer is on track to become a high-level head coach and would be a good fit in Dover.