Loyola Blakefield Names New Director of Athletics

Loyola Blakefield has named Blake Henry ’98 as its new Director of Athletics. His appointment is effective July 1, 2022. Henry brings 20 years of teaching, coaching, and administrative experience in private education to the role. He is also a National Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association (NIAAA) Certified Athletic Administrator.
 
Henry is currently at St. Andrew’s School in Savannah, GA, where he serves as Associate Director of Athletics and leads the varsity football program. From 2005–2010, Henry served as a middle school teacher at Loyola. During that time, he was also an Assistant Varsity Football Coach, Head Freshman Basketball Coach, and Middle School Director of Activities. In 2010, he became the Head Varsity Football Coach at Mount Saint Joseph High School where he was also a teacher and Assistant Director of Students. In 2015, he joined The Potomac School in McLean, VA, where he served in a variety of roles, including Assistant Director of Facilities, Faculty Advisor, Head Varsity Football Coach, Intermediate School Assistant Coach (football, basketball, lacrosse, wrestling), and Director of Clubs and Activities.
 
A 2022 inductee into the Loyola Blakefield Athletics Hall of Fame, Henry was a First-Team All-ACC Selection in football during his time at Wake Forest University in 2002. He also went on to pursue a professional career via a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons in 2003. As a high school athlete, he was a member of four Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) ‘A’ Conference Championship teams in football (1995, 1996, 1997) and basketball (1997). As an assistant coach, he helped guide the Dons to MIAA football titles in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
 
“I am excited and honored to serve as the next Director of Athletics at Loyola Blakefield,” said Henry. “As a student-athlete at Loyola, I was taught to pursue excellence while living our Ignatian values. I am looking forward to leading our athletics program in that same pursuit.”
 
A 2002 Wake Forest University graduate, Henry also received a Master of Education in Athletic Leadership and Administration from Goucher College in 2009. As a member of the Demon Deacons football team, he was recognized with the Bill George Award as best lineman in 2002 and was the 2001 Brian Piccolo Scholarship Award recipient.
 
Henry emerged as a candidate via a nationwide search that began in the fall of 2021. “We are thrilled to welcome Blake back to the Loyola Blakefield community – a place that meant so much to formation both as a student and as a professional,” said Brian Maraña, Upper School Principal. “In his passion for athletics, commitment to Ignatian education, and love for Loyola, Blake embodies the traits of an ideal Director of Athletics. He is a Don through and through, and I can’t wait to witness his leadership inspire the next generation of Dons to compete with pride and passion.”
 
Henry will transition into his new role at a time when Loyola’s athletics facilities and programs have witnessed a period of growth as the Dons look to continue a proud tradition of championship-caliber play in the prestigious MIAA. Among the recent improvements to campus was the installation of the Bolte-Breschi Athletic Complex, which features Joseph C. Connor ’42 Field, Michael T. Keeney ’65 Field, and Veterans Park. The project also delivered stadium seating, lighting, press boxes, and a high-definition LED video scoreboard.

Blake and his wife, Makenna, look forward to transitioning back to Maryland along with their three children, Marilyn (9), Veronica (7), and Blake Jr. (5).

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