Jim Blankenship

Biography

A veteran of over three decades in collegiate coaching, head coach Jim Blankenship, who was named the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2019 and 2024 ASUN Coach of the Year, will enter his 20th season as head coach of the FGCU women's soccer program in 2026. Blankenship ranks among the elite women's soccer coaches in collegiate history. Entering the 2026 season, his 470 career wins rank ninth among active NCAA coaches and sixth among active D1 coaches. Blankenship started the program in 2007 and has since guided the Eagles to 16 double-digit win seasons, culminating with ASUN Regular Season Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 and an ASUN East Division title in 2021. While building four different programs from scratch, Blankenship's teams have won three National Championships and appeared in eight Final Fours. His impressive career record of 448-151-46 over 33 seasons has come while leading FGCU, University of Miami, Lynn University and St. Thomas University. Before coaching the Hurricanes, Blankenship spent 12 years as the first-ever head women's soccer coach at Lynn, earning NAIA Coach of the Year honors five times and NSCAA Coach of the Year twice. His teams won three national championships and reached the Final Four in 10 consecutive seasons. Blankenship, who is from Newark, Delaware, played collegiate soccer at FIU and graduated with a bachelor's degree in administration and recreation in 1982.