Follow Coach Bland on Twitter: @Coach_Bland
Recruiting Areas:
• North Carolina (Wilmington / Fayetteville / Brunswick County), South Carolina (Myrtle Beach / Charleston), Georgia (Southeast) and Florida (North)
Chris Bland '08, a two-sport student-athlete at Elon in both football and baseball and a 2008 graduate with a degree in Leisure and Sport Management, returned to the Phoenix football program on January 5, 2019, as the cornerbacks coach and is in his second season with the Phoenix in 2020 after spending the previous four seasons in the same position at Kennesaw State.
A member of the Elon defense when head coach Tony Trisciani was on staff with the Phoenix in 2006, Bland's first season at Elon saw him play a big role in Greg Liggs, Jr. taking his game to a new level in setting the program's FCS single-season interception record with eight throughout the team's 11 games. A Buck Buchanan Award finalist and a First Team All-CAA Football honoree switching back and forth between safety and corner, Liggs was also named a unanimous First Team All-American, picking up six All-America honors after the conclusion of the 2019 campaign.
Prior to rejoining Elon, Bland joined the Owls in February 2014 as part of coach Brian Bohannon's first staff in program history and had been the team's cornerbacks coach since the program's first game in 2015. Over the course of his four seasons with Kennesaw State, he helped the Owls to an overall 37-12 record with two Big South championships and two FCS quarterfinals appearances.
In 2018, Bland's unit helped Kennesaw State finish second in the nation and tops in the Big South in total defense with just 263.7 yards allowed per game. It also led the Big South in numerous defensive categories, including interceptions (13), rushing defense (111.7) and scoring defense (15.4). The stellar 2018 came on the heels of a strong 2017 in which KSU led the conference and finished second in the country in interceptions, picking off 24 passes with four coming in the red zone. That season, Kennesaw also finished third in the league in passing defense with 199.4 yards per game.
Under Bland's leadership, cornerback Dante Blackmon became the first Owl alum to participate with a NFL team when he received an invite to mini-camp tryouts with the Indianapolis Colts before signing as an undrafted free agent in 2017. A First Team All-Big South performer, Blackmon led the conference and ranked second in the nation with six interceptions during the 2016 season.
Prior to his time at Kennesaw State, Bland spent two seasons at Brevard College as the defensive backs coach. He assumed the role of co-Defensive Coordinator before the 2013 season, where he coached junior linebacker Michael Gruber to Division II All-America honorable mention honors.
Before arriving at Brevard, Bland spent three seasons at East Carolina. In Greenville, N.C., he served two seasons as the defensive graduate assistant and one as a defensive assistant. He helped coach ECU to the Conference USA championship in 2009, along with appearances in the 2009 Liberty Bowl and the 2010 Military Bowl.
Bland's coaching career began as defensive backs coach at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, N.C., where the Trojans posted a 7-5 record and advanced to the North Carolina state playoffs in 2008.
Bland completed a notable four-year playing career in 2007 as the Phoenix' starting strong safety and team captain. As a senior, he was credited with 64 tackles from his secondary position to help guide Elon to a 7-4 mark and a final No. 23 national ranking among all Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs. As a junior in 2006 under Trisciani's leadership, Bland tallied 56 stops and led the Phoenix with four interceptions - returning one 33 yards for a touchdown against eventual national champion Appalachian State. He netted a pair of picks during his sophomore campaign in 2005 and added 45 tackles, which included a career-high 12 in a Southern Conference matchup against Chattanooga.
In all, Bland closed out his 42-game career with 173 stops, 13 resulting in lost yardage, seven interceptions, eight pass breakups and two forced fumbles for coaches Paul Hamilton (2004-05) and Pete Lembo (2006-07).
What They're Saying...
Trisciani on Bland: "Chris played for me at Elon back in 2006 when he was a three-year starter and a captain during Pete Lembo's tenure as our head football coach. I have followed Chris's coaching career closely from East Carolina to Kennesaw State, where he's helped develop a nationally-rated top-5 defense over the last few years. Chris played his high school football at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte, N.C., and has been a successful recruiter in the state for the last 10 seasons and we're happy to have him back here at Elon."
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Coaching Experience
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| 2008 |
Defensive Backs, West Brunswick High School |
| 2009-10 |
Defensive Graduate Assistant, East Carolina |
| 2011 |
Defensive Assistant, East Carolina |
| 2012 |
Defensive Backs, Brevard |
| 2013 |
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, Brevard |
| 2014-18 |
Cornerbacks, Kennesaw State |
| 2019-Present |
Cornerbacks, Elon |
