AJ Blazek is in his first season as offensive line coach for the Scarlet Knights after being named to the position by head coach Chris Ash on Dec. 24, 2015. Blazek was a Big Ten student-athlete at Iowa and spent the previous three seasons on the staff at Western Illinois.
Blazek worked as the offensive line coach and the run game coordinator for Western Illinois from 2013-15. In each season, the Leathernecks had a 1000-yard rusher and an All-Missouri Valley Football Conference offensive line selection.
In 2015, WIU earned an at-large bid in the FCS playoffs and advanced to the second round. The team averaged nearly 400 yards of total offense per game and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed. Running back Nikko Watson finished 11th in the nation with 108.7 rushing yards per game, while sophomore center Jacob Judd also collected all-conference recognition.
In his first year, Blazek helped the offensive line improve nearly 30 spots nationally in sacks allowed from the previous 2012 season, and more than 60 spots compared from two seasons before that. Despite using six different starting lineups along the front five (mainly due to injuries), the offense registered eight 100-yard rushing efforts during the 2013 season and nearly scored as many points as the previous two seasons combined.
Prior to arriving at Western Illinois, Blazek had a four-year stint at Winona State in Minnesota. He worked with the offensive line and tight ends and was the co-offensive coordinator in his final three seasons with the Warriors. Blazek was named the 2012 “Assistant Coach of the Year” by the American Football Coaches Association.
During his four years, Blazek coached 14 of his position players to All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honors - including four All-NSIC offensive linemen and one All-NSIC tight end last season. Twice during his three years as co-offensive coordinator Simmons led the conference in rushing. In 2012, the Warriors broke the program and NSIC record for total offense. The Warriors also won the 2012 Mineral Water Bowl, finishing 10-2.
Before joining Winona State, Blazek was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Fort Hays State (2005-08) in Kansas. He coached five offensive linemen to all-conference honors and one ESPN Academic All-American, Jordan Stricker, in 2008. Offensive tackle Wes Yarbough signed a NFL free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Blazek began his coaching career at his alma mater, the University of Iowa. He coached for four seasons (2001-04), the first year as a student assistant before becoming a graduate assistant coach. The Hawkeyes captured two Big Ten Conference titles during his time, and won bowl games versus Florida and LSU.
In 2003 while working with the offensive line, Blazek helped tutor the future No. 2 overall NFL draft pick, Robert Gallery. He also coached six other NFL draft picks at Iowa: Eric Steinbach (Cincinnati/2nd), Bruce Nelson (Carolina/2nd round), Seth Olsen (Denver/4th), Ben Sobieski (Buffalo/5th), Pete McMahon (Oakland/6th) and Mike Elgin (New England/7th).
Following his All-America and Academic All-America career at Butler County Community College, Blazek was a two-year letterwinner at center for the Hawkeyes. He earned All-Big Ten Conference honors in 2000 and was a co-captain during that 2000 season. Twice he earned Academic All-Big Ten Conference honors.
Before he began his collegiate coaching career, Blazek played two seasons for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. He was the recipient of the 2001 Walter Payton Award for community service.
A native of Wichita, Kan., Blazek received his bachelor's degree in Health Promotions in 2001, then a master's degree in Sports Administration in 2004, both at Iowa.