John Fitzgerald Blake is a celebrated football player and coach known for his impressive career as a defensive player and his significant contributions to college and professional football.
John Blake, son of James and Dorothy Blake of Sand Springs, graduated from Charles Page High School in 1979. At Charles Page, Blake was a 4-year letterman playing fullback and noseguard under Vocational Director and then-head football coach A.D. James. He earned numerous accolades, including all-state, all-metro, and all-conference honors during his junior and senior years. Blake was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1979 All-State Game and the (Oklahoma/Texas) Oil Bowl Game.
Blake continued his football career at the University of Oklahoma, where he played as a noseguard under coach Barry Switzer. He was a 3-year letterman, twice named the Big 8 Defensive Player of the Week, and received second-team All-Big 8 honors. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences degree in 1983.
After graduation, Blake served as a graduate assistant at the University of Oklahoma from 1984 to 1987, contributing to the Sooners’ national championship win. In 1988, he joined the University of Tulsa as an assistant coach under coach Dave Rader. Blake returned to Oklahoma from 1989 to 1992 as an assistant coach under Gary Gibbs.
In 1993, Blake transitioned to professional football as the Defensive Line Coach for the Dallas Cowboys, helping the team secure two Super Bowl victories. He was recognized as one of the Outstanding Young Men in America in 1988 and was named the 20th Head Coach at the University of Oklahoma on December 31, 1995.