Tony Blake - Associate Head Coach - Men's Golf Coaches

Tony Blake

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
a.blake@ku.edu
Phone:
393-7831

Bio

Tony Blake enters his second season at Kansas after being named the associate head coach of the men’s golf program by head coach Jamie Bermel in July 2023.

In his first season at Kansas, Blake helped the Jayhawks produce three individual medalists, three Top-5 team finishes and appeared in their eighth-consecutive NCAA Regional.

In 2023-24, Kansas was led by senior Cecil Belisle, who carried a 71.91 scoring average for the season and won two individual events. Sophomore Will King joined his teammate in the win column, taking home medalist honors at the Gopher Invitational. Blake also assisted King to a Big 12 All-Tournament Team selection.

Under Blake's efforts, senior Gunnar Broin became the first active Jayhawk since 1992 to compete in a PGA TOUR major championship event, qualifying for the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2. Of 9,522 local qualifiers, Broin was the only golfer to make the cut at the major championship thanks to a round of 68 on Friday's second round.

Prior to Kansas
After spending the last two years as the program director of First Tee Greater Kansas City, Blake served as Head Coach of the men’s and women’s golf program at Park University in Missouri. During his three-year tenure at Park, Blake earned six tournament wins and a No. 19 national ranking for the men’s team in his first two seasons, with one player who was awarded the 2018 Men’s Golf Championship and qualified for the 2018 NAIA National Championship. In 2019, the men’s team won twice more and the program also produced the Golfer of the Year and the Freshman of the Year, while a member of the women’s team earned all-conference honors.

Before his time at Park University, Blake served as assistant coach of the Wichita State Men’s Golf program. In just five years with the Shockers, Blake produced 20 All-Missouri Valley Conference performers, three MVC Newcomer of the Year players, four MVC Championship medalists, and five MVC Player of the Year awards. The Shockers won 14 tournaments in Blake’s five seasons, as he helped elevate the Shockers to four-straight MVC titles as well as five NCAA appearances.

As a student-athlete, Blake was a member of the Wichita State golf team (1994-96) and was a two-year letterman. Prior to WSU, Blake was a member of the Butler County Community College golf team where he was the 1993 Region IV Champion.

Following his career after Wichita State, Blake played on multiple mini-tours as a professional. In 2003, Blake regained his amateur status. In 2004, Blake was crowned the Kansas State Mid-Amateur Champion.

The Wichita, Kansas native graduated from Wichita State in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education-Sports Business. Blake and his wife, Cara, have two children, Crandall and Carlin.

THE BLAKE FILE
Alma Mater: Butler County CC (1993), Wichita State (1996)
Hometown: Wichita, Kan.
Wife: Cara
Children: Crandall and Carlin

Coaching Experience
2024-Present, Kansas (Associate HC)
2017-20, Park University (HC men & women)
2011-16, Wichita State (Assistant)

COACHING ACCOLADES
2024 NCAA Regional Appearance (KU)
1 Big 12 Golfer of the Month (KU)
3 Individual Medalists (KU)
14 Team Titles (WSU)
20 All-MVC performers (WSU)
3 MVC Newcomer of the Year players (WSU)
4 MVC Championship medalists (WSU)
5 MVC Player of the Year awards (WSU)
6 Team Titles (Park U.)
2019 Golfer of the Year (Park U.)
2019 Freshman of the Year (Park U.)
Ranked No. 19 nationally (Park U.)