Craig Blanchard is the Chargers' defensive coordinator, and heads into his 21st season at Hillsdale College in 2020. He is well-versed in all aspects of coaching a defense, having spent time specializing coaching defensive backs and linebackers. He helped field one of the top defenses in the GLIAC during the team's run of two conference titles and two playoff appearances from 2007-12. More recently, his units in 2017 and 2018 ranked near the top of the G-MAC across the board. In three years in the conference Hillsdale has had two players, Wyatt Batdorff (2018) and Drake Temple (2019) win G-MAC Defensive Back of the Year Awards, and a player, Zach VanValkenburg (2018) win the G-MAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Award. 

During his 39-year coaching career, Blanchard has served as Defensive Coordinator at University of Indianapolis (1994-2000), Kalamazoo College (1993), Jonesville High School (1981 & 1985), and currently here at Hillsdale College.

Blanchard has coached nine All-Americans during his career:

Blanchard played football at Grand Valley State University from 1977-80, spending two seasons at running back before switching over to the defensive side of the ball, where he led the Lakers and the GLIAC in interceptions his senior season at cornerback.  That performance helped earn him first team All-GLIAC and All-NAIA District 23 honors for his final season, Blanchard also helped GVSU win two conference championships in 1977 and 1978.  Blanchard graduated with a B.A. & S. degree in Education from GVSU in 1981.

Blanchard played his prep football at Jonesville High School.  During his senior season, he helped lead the Comets to an 8-1 record, earning first team All-Big 8 Conference and Class C First-Team All-State honors. His 1,705 rushing yards as a high school senior were the best mark in the state of Michigan that season.

Blanchard and his wife Melanie reside in the Hillsdale area.  Melanie works for Hospice of Hillsdale County.  They raised four children, all of whom went on to play intercollegiate athletics: Lauren, who played softball at Adrian College; Kathryn, who played softball at the University of Indianapolis; Michael, who was an All-Conference baseball and football player at Hillsdale; and Aaron, who played football at Adrian College.

Blanchard’s coaching career