SMC Coach of the Year
BRYSON CITY – For the second straight year Swain’s Neil Blankenship has been named the Smoky Mountain Conference football Coach of the Year. Blankenship guided the Maroon Devils to their 3rd straight SMC Championship finishing with a 12-3 overall record. The Devils also appeared in their 3rd straight Western 1AA Regional Final.
Blankenship, in just his 2nd year as head coach at Swain, has compiled a 27-4 record. In his first two years, Blankenship has more wins than any other Swain head coach in their first two years at the helm of Swain High football.
“It is always nice to be recognized by your peers, but to me this award is more about our team and what an exceptional group of young men they are and what they were able to accomplish,” stated Blankenship on Monday when reached for comment.