Black Hills State University Athletics

Ben Blake joined the Black Hills State University football staff as Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach prior to the 2020 season.

Before BHSU, Blake coached four years at Southeast Missouri (NCAA-FCS) as Offensive Line Coach (2016-19). Blake’s offensive line helped SEMO set new single-season school records in points scored (482), points per game (37.1), touchdowns (63) and total plays (891) in 2018. He also coached tackle, Drew Forbes who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Blake helped coach back-to-back winning seasons at SEMO for the first time in school history as a member of the FCS and completed back-to-back playoff appearances and Co-Conference OVC Champs in 2019.

Prior to SEMO, Blake served as Offensive Line Coach at the University of Sioux Falls (NCAA-II) for two seasons (2014-15). At USF, Blake helped lead the Cougars to a combined 20-4 overall record. In 2015, USF went 9-3 and tied for second overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 9-2 mark.

Blake’s offensive line at USF led the nation in sacks allowed, giving up only five in 12 contests during the 2015 campaign. The Cougars also ranked 11th nationally in third-down conversion percentage (48.2 pct.), 16th in both scoring offense (39.3 ppg) and first downs (285), and 19th in total offense (472.1 ypg).

Before USF, Blake was the Offensive Line Coach, Run Game Coordinator and Strength and Conditioning Coach at Evangel University (NAIA) in Springfield, Mo. for three seasons (2011-13). There, Blake coached seven all-conference selections on the offensive line, including first-team honoree Keith Wright in 2012, the Crusaders’ first OL first-team selection since 2006.

Prior to his stint at Evangel, Blake spent four years (2007-10) at Southwest Baptist University (NCAA-II) in Bolivar, Mo as Offensive Line Coach and Run Game Coordinator, and as the Co-Offensive Coordinator in his final year there.

He also worked as an assistant coach at Highland Community College in Kansas for one season (2006) and was a graduate assistant coach working with the offensive line and tight ends at Concordia University-Wisconsin (NCAA-III) from 2004-05.

Blake graduated from Concordia University with an undergraduate degree in business management and minor in public relations. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration with a marketing emphasis.

He and his wife, Alyssa, have one daughter, Grace.