Army West Point Athletics
Football
Powers, Blake
Blake Powers
- Title:
- Admissions Support
Blake Powers enters his third season on the Army West Point coaching staff, coaching the running backs in 2024.
In 2023, he coached the tight ends and in 2022 he coached the fullbacks.
Powers originally joined the Army West Point football staff in July 2018 as the admissions support officer and has served the team in multiple capacities through admissions and recruiting support, football operations, and player development roles. He moved to the coaching side of the ball in 2022.
In 2023 while overseeing the tight ends, Powers continued to develop senior tight end Josh Lingenfelter, who was regarded as one of the top blocking tight ends in the country. As a team, Army averaged 208.0 rushing yards per game, ranking seventh best in the country as Army’s tight ends aided as a big part of the success on the ground.
Powers also played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Tyson Riley who switched positions from full back to tight end for his senior season. Riley was a key force in the Black Knights offensive attack, catching five passes for 38 yards, three of which for touchdowns. There was no bigger catch than his four-yard touchdown reception in the Army-Navy Game to put Army up 7-0 in the second quarter.
In 2022, Powers’ fullbacks were led by juniors Jakobi Buchanan and Tyson Riley. Buchanan had six rushing touchdowns, including multi-touchdown performances against UTSA and UMass. Riley totaled a career-high 159 yards on 21 carries, featuring a 70-yard touchdown run vs. Villanova. His performance marked the first time since Larry Dixon in 2014 (158 yards vs. Fordham) an Army RB (non-QB) has surpassed 150+ rushing yards in a game. Collectively on the ground, Army averaged 5.4 yards per attempt which was the highest average in a season since averaging 6.0 in 2017.
His myriad of duties since joining the program included assisting the recruiting department with the processing, maintenance and supervision of all potential football USMA candidates. He was involved in the daily interaction with recruited athletes, high school counselors, administrators, USMAPS officials, and USMA representatives regarding candidate academic eligibility, medical qualification, congressional nomination procedures, physical fitness requirements, and future potential service in the United States Army. Powers also served as the advance operations officer for all away football games and served the team in player development duties in 2021.
Powers served in the Army on active duty, achieving the rank of Major before transitioning into coaching. After graduating from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., in 2011, his first assignment was to 2-2 IN, 3 IBCT, 1st Infantry Division (Ft. Knox), where he served as an Infantry heavy weapons platoon leader. In this position, Powers deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM XIII-XIV to Zabul Province, Afghanistan in 2013. He was then assigned to 1 SBCT, 4th Infantry Division (Ft. Carson) where he served as an operations officer and an executive officer.
Powers then transitioned to the Signal Corps and was assigned to 3-187 IN, 3 IBCT, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) (Ft. Campbell). During his assignment to 3-187 IN (IRON RAKKASANS), he deployed as the Battalion Signal Officer to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from 2016-2017 in support of OPERATION FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
He next commanded the 58th Signal Company, 101STB, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT), where his company was one of three in all of the XVIII Airborne Corps to win the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. During his tour as a Company Commander, his soldiers won the 2017 and 2018 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) NCO of the Year and the 2017 XVIII Airborne Corps NCO of the Year awards. Powers’ company also achieved and maintained the Air Assault Excellence Streamer for the duration of his command.
Powers military awards and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges.
Before his service, Powers played collegiately at Indiana University, where he was a starting quarterback and four-year letterwinner on the football team, breaking the single-season record for touchdown passes in 2005 and finishing in the top-five in school history in multiple all-time passing categories.
In addition to earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2008, he also holds a Master of Arts degree from Webster University in Information Technology Management that he obtained while serving in the Army.
After graduating from Indiana in 2008, Powers played professionally and was a starting quarterback in the Arena Football League as a rookie before deciding to join the Army.
Prior to shipping to Officer Candidate School, Powers was the wide receivers coach and assisted with slotbacks, quarterbacks, and strength coaching for the 2010 South Oldham High School football team in Class 5A of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
The team finished with a record of 7-4, surpassing the school’s win total of the previous three years combined along with making a playoff appearance. Due to the program’s successful turnaround under head coach Jamie Reid, he was selected to coach in the 2010 Kentucky East/West All-Star Game. Powers is also an alumnus of the Manning Passing Academy, coaching the camp for three years (2006, 2007, and 2016).
He resides at West Point with his wife Carrie, daughter Ella Kate, son Eli, twins Lucy and Lucas, and daughter Camille.
In 2023, he coached the tight ends and in 2022 he coached the fullbacks.
Powers originally joined the Army West Point football staff in July 2018 as the admissions support officer and has served the team in multiple capacities through admissions and recruiting support, football operations, and player development roles. He moved to the coaching side of the ball in 2022.
In 2023 while overseeing the tight ends, Powers continued to develop senior tight end Josh Lingenfelter, who was regarded as one of the top blocking tight ends in the country. As a team, Army averaged 208.0 rushing yards per game, ranking seventh best in the country as Army’s tight ends aided as a big part of the success on the ground.
Powers also played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Tyson Riley who switched positions from full back to tight end for his senior season. Riley was a key force in the Black Knights offensive attack, catching five passes for 38 yards, three of which for touchdowns. There was no bigger catch than his four-yard touchdown reception in the Army-Navy Game to put Army up 7-0 in the second quarter.
In 2022, Powers’ fullbacks were led by juniors Jakobi Buchanan and Tyson Riley. Buchanan had six rushing touchdowns, including multi-touchdown performances against UTSA and UMass. Riley totaled a career-high 159 yards on 21 carries, featuring a 70-yard touchdown run vs. Villanova. His performance marked the first time since Larry Dixon in 2014 (158 yards vs. Fordham) an Army RB (non-QB) has surpassed 150+ rushing yards in a game. Collectively on the ground, Army averaged 5.4 yards per attempt which was the highest average in a season since averaging 6.0 in 2017.
His myriad of duties since joining the program included assisting the recruiting department with the processing, maintenance and supervision of all potential football USMA candidates. He was involved in the daily interaction with recruited athletes, high school counselors, administrators, USMAPS officials, and USMA representatives regarding candidate academic eligibility, medical qualification, congressional nomination procedures, physical fitness requirements, and future potential service in the United States Army. Powers also served as the advance operations officer for all away football games and served the team in player development duties in 2021.
Powers served in the Army on active duty, achieving the rank of Major before transitioning into coaching. After graduating from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Ga., in 2011, his first assignment was to 2-2 IN, 3 IBCT, 1st Infantry Division (Ft. Knox), where he served as an Infantry heavy weapons platoon leader. In this position, Powers deployed in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM XIII-XIV to Zabul Province, Afghanistan in 2013. He was then assigned to 1 SBCT, 4th Infantry Division (Ft. Carson) where he served as an operations officer and an executive officer.
Powers then transitioned to the Signal Corps and was assigned to 3-187 IN, 3 IBCT, 101st Airborne Division (AASLT) (Ft. Campbell). During his assignment to 3-187 IN (IRON RAKKASANS), he deployed as the Battalion Signal Officer to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, from 2016-2017 in support of OPERATION FREEDOM’S SENTINEL.
He next commanded the 58th Signal Company, 101STB, 101st ABN DIV (AASLT), where his company was one of three in all of the XVIII Airborne Corps to win the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence. During his tour as a Company Commander, his soldiers won the 2017 and 2018 101st ABN DIV (AASLT) NCO of the Year and the 2017 XVIII Airborne Corps NCO of the Year awards. Powers’ company also achieved and maintained the Air Assault Excellence Streamer for the duration of his command.
Powers military awards and qualifications include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Ranger Tab, Pathfinder, Airborne, and Air Assault Badges.
Before his service, Powers played collegiately at Indiana University, where he was a starting quarterback and four-year letterwinner on the football team, breaking the single-season record for touchdown passes in 2005 and finishing in the top-five in school history in multiple all-time passing categories.
In addition to earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University in 2008, he also holds a Master of Arts degree from Webster University in Information Technology Management that he obtained while serving in the Army.
After graduating from Indiana in 2008, Powers played professionally and was a starting quarterback in the Arena Football League as a rookie before deciding to join the Army.
Prior to shipping to Officer Candidate School, Powers was the wide receivers coach and assisted with slotbacks, quarterbacks, and strength coaching for the 2010 South Oldham High School football team in Class 5A of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
The team finished with a record of 7-4, surpassing the school’s win total of the previous three years combined along with making a playoff appearance. Due to the program’s successful turnaround under head coach Jamie Reid, he was selected to coach in the 2010 Kentucky East/West All-Star Game. Powers is also an alumnus of the Manning Passing Academy, coaching the camp for three years (2006, 2007, and 2016).
He resides at West Point with his wife Carrie, daughter Ella Kate, son Eli, twins Lucy and Lucas, and daughter Camille.
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