Blake, UNC's key football recruiter, won't leave for NFL

North Carolina

Blake, UNC's key football recruiter, won't leave for NFL

By Don Callahan

Jan 30, 2009

11

comments

POST VIEW

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Despite NFL interest this offseason, John Blake says he has no intention of leaving his post as associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach at North Carolina.

“The University of North Carolina and its fans have been very good to my family and [me],” Blake told Inside Carolina on Friday. “The fans’ support for us to win conference championships and national championships is second to none.

“My family and I really enjoy being at North Carolina, and any rumors about me leaving are totally false. I am looking forward to continuing in the Carolina program under Coach Butch Davis’ leadership as we continue to elevate the program to national prominence.”

Blake says the published reports indicating he may leave UNC to take a job with the New York Jets new staff under Rex Ryan are not true.

“Rex Ryan is a very special friend of mine, but Carolina is family,” Blake said.

During Blake’s tenure as head coach of Oklahoma, Ryan served as Blake’s defensive coordinator for the 1998 season.

Blake is highly regarded as a defensive line specialist and as a recruiter. Two experts in this week’s issue of The Sporting News selected Blake as “Best Recruiter of 2009,” as UNC’s current recruiting class is ranked Top 5 nationally by The Sporting News and by Scout.com.