Successful Wayne offensive coordinator leaves for Greenon

Braxton Miller, the Wayne High School quarterback who has committed to play his college football at Ohio State, is one of the most outrageous athletic talents to come through the area in recent memory. Some services have ranked him the No. 1 overall recruit in the country. He looks at game film with offensive coordinator Brian Blevins, who is on Wayne’s staff for the first year after resigning as Fairmont High School’s head coach. Staff photo by Jim Witmer

Braxton Miller, the Wayne High School quarterback who has committed to play his college football at Ohio State, is one of the most outrageous athletic talents to come through the area in recent memory. Some services have ranked him the No. 1 overall recruit in the country. He looks at game film with offensive coordinator Brian Blevins, who is on Wayne’s staff for the first year after resigning as Fairmont High School’s head coach. Staff photo by Jim Witmer
Sports
By Marc Pendleton
April 25, 2018
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Brian Blevins faced many high-end challenges as the offensive coordinator during Wayne’s celebrated success as a Division I state football power. And he’ll have another in helping jump-start Greenon.

Blevins has left Wayne after eight seasons as an assistant coach and will look to make similar offensive fireworks with the Knights as their offensive coordinator. He switched programs mainly for the chance to coach with his son, Matt Blevins. He’ll also reunite with a former assistant of his, Greenon head coach Josh Wooten.

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Wayne has never won a D-I state championship, but played three state title games during Blevins’ time with the Warriors, 2010 and 2014-15. In all, Wayne has played for four D-I state championships under head coach Jay Minton.

“Jay and I had some long talks,” Blevins said. “Life is short. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something with my son that I gave up to be at Wayne. Jay has always said you’ve got to put your family first.”

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Blevins is a familiar football figure in the Springfield area. He was a quarterback at Springfield South from 1983-85. His first head coach position was at Yellow Springs. He also was the head coach at Springfield North, East Palestine in northeast Ohio and for seven mostly successful years at Fairmont.

He left Fairmont to become the OC at Wayne in 2010. That coincided with Braxton Miller’s senior season. The soon-to-be Ohio State University quarterback was a key reason why Wayne played Lakewood St. Edward in the D-I state championship that year.

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After Miller, Blevins groomed in succession Wayne QBs Javon Harrison, D’Mitrik Trice, Messiah deWeaver and returning senior Rashad McKee, already a two-year starter. All were outstanding passers.

Wayne was 16-7 in the playoffs with Blevins as the offensive coordinator. In all, Wayne has made 20 big-school playoff appearances – the most of any area D-I program – and has advanced to the playoffs the past six seasons.

“I think I helped solidify some things offensively,” he said.

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In contrast, Greenon had lost 31 consecutive games and had won just twice since 2012 when Wooten was promoted from defensive coordinator prior to last season. The Knights finished 3-6, their first season in the Ohio Heritage Conference after leaving the Central Buckeye Conference.

In D-V, Region 20 last season, Greenon has never qualified for the postseason.

“I’ve been truly blessed,” Blevins said. “Greenon could have an opportunity to shock some people.”

BRIAN BLEVINS

What: Greenon offensive coordinator

Previously: OC at Wayne from 2010-17

Head coach: Fairmont, East Palestine, Springfield North, Yellow Springs

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About the Author

Marc Pendleton