Hall of Fame
Joe Blankenship played and coached football at EKU. He was recruited by several NCAA Division I-AA schools after a stellar high school career at Male High School where he was co-captain of Male’s 1960 State football champion team. In 1961, he was selected to the all-state team, the All-South football team, the Scholastic Football Team and making honorable mention All-America that senior season. After receiving several I-A offers, he chose to play at the University of Kentucky for coach Blanton Collier.
After UK hired a new coach following his freshman season, Blankenship transferred to Eastern Kentucky to play for coach Glenn Presnell. After one season with coach Presnell, he played his junior season in 1964 for coach Roy Kidd before a neck injury ended his playing career. After graduation from EKU in 1965, Blankenship helped start the football program at Iroquois High School in Louisville, coaching defense and special teams for six years. In 1972 he moved across town to Seneca High School. After two years as an assistant coach, he became head coach at Seneca where he led the Redskins to a 25-7-2 record. In 1976, he directed Seneca to an undefeated 10-0 record before losing in the final seconds 3-0 to Trinity High School in the 4A championship game. He was named 4A Coach of the Year that season. In 1977, he joined the staff of EKU head coach Roy Kidd, coaching linebackers and special teams until 1995. During that span, Eastern Kentucky won two national titles, was national runner-up twice, won 11 Ohio Valley Conference Championships and made 16 appearances in the NCAA playoffs.
Blankenship retired as assistant football coach at EKU in 1995 and retired as an assistant professor in health science in 2000. He received numerous awards and recognitions for his commitment to his church, community and profession. One of his most treasured memories came when he coached the 6th, 7th and 8th grade football teams at Clark Moores Middle School with his son Troy.
