John Blake Death | Obituary – John Blake sadly passed away, John Patrick Blake was an American football coach and player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma from 1996 to 1998.
Blake served as the head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners from 1996 to 1998, succeeding the one-year term of Howard Schnellenberger. He compiled a career record of 12–22 which is the worst three-year stretch in The University of Oklahoma football history. Despite his overall poor performance as college head coach, Blake was an admirable recruiter. He was responsible for bringing in more than half of the 2000 championship team’s 22 starters, including future N.F.L. players like safety Roy Williams and linebacker Rocky Calmus.
Prior to his arrival in Norman, Blake had served as the defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys, working alongside former UNC coach Butch Davis (2007–11) as well as former Sooner and then Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer. The Dallas Cowboys won two Super Bowls (1993 & 1995) during Blake’s stint. Blake also worked as a defensive assistant at Oklahoma in the early 1990s under Gary Gibbs.
Blake served as the defensive line coach at Mississippi State University in 2003. He later held the same position on Bill Callahan’s staff at the University of Nebraska from 2004 to 2006. Blake resigned his position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Sunday, September 5, 2010.[3] On February 16, 2016 Lamar University announced that they had hired Blake to serve as their defensive line coach.[4] After one month at Lamar and during the Cardinals’ spring camp, Blake accepted the defensive line coach position with the Buffalo Bills on March 15, 2016 following the Bills’ firing of Karl Dunbar.
We express our sympathy and deepest condolences to John Blake’s family today and in the days, weeks, months, and years that are to come as they cope with his passing. May his soul rest in peace.
Sad news. John Blake has died. Coach Switzer tells me it was a heart attack while out walking. Says he’d lost a lot of weight and was doing well. Prayers w the former #Sooners HC and devastated family. RIP. @news9 @OU_Football
— Dean Blevins (@DeanBlevins) July 23, 2020
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