TU fires Coach Blankenship

Coach Bill Blankenship, TU Athletics

After four seasons as head coach of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team Bill Blankenship was dismissed on Monday morning.

Blankenship took over for Todd Graham, who left the Hurricane to coach the University of Pittsburgh Panthers at the end of the 2010 season.  After an 8-5 season in 2011 and an 11-3 season and two bowl appearances, the Golden Hurricane have had two consecutive losing seasons (3-9 in 2013 and 2-10 this season).  This season saw the Hurricane win two games at home, and no road or non-conference games.

Coach Bill Blankenship

Blankenship served two seasons as an assistant before assuming the head coaching position and was a former TU quarterback in the late 1970s.  Prior to moving to the University of Tulsa coaching ranks Blankenship was a successful high school coach for 23 years, including 14 years and two state titles at Tulsa Union High School.

“We are grateful for the service and commitment of coach Blankenship to our university, our student-athletes and our community, but we have decided that the program needs to go in a different direction,” University of Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg said.

A committee will be formed to search for a new head coach immediately.