Blaine McCorkle was named the 7th head football coach in Belhaven history on January 6, 2018. After arriving in Jackson, McCorkle quickly elevated the Blazers into a household name in the American Southwest Conference and now the USA South.
As the head coach of the Blazers, McCorkle has led the program to new heights as he led Belhaven to its winningest season in program history in 2022. In the past two seasons, the Blazers are 15-5 which marks the best record in a two-year span since the program was started in 1998.
McCorkle was named the ASC Coach of the Year for a second consecutive season in the fall of 2021 due to the Blazers' success on the field. McCorkle has coached 11 All-USA South athletes, 36 All-ASC athletes, ten All-Region players, and one AFCA All-American (Carlton Brown, 2021).
McCorkle was an Education graduate and four-year football letterman at Louisiana State University. McCorkle came to Belhaven from the University of Delaware, where he served as Offensive Line Coach. His collegiate coaching career spans 24 years, including stops at five Division I FCS schools, two Division III institutions, and one Division I school.
Prior to coming to Belhaven, McCorkle spent nine seasons with head coach Danny Rocco at the University of Delaware, the University of Richmond, and Liberty University. He has coached five conference championship teams (2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015) and three NCAA playoff squads (2014, 2015, 2016) at the Division I FCS level. The 2014 Richmond team advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and finished the year ranked 16th nationally. The 2015 Spider squad played all the way into the national semifinals with a final ranking of 3rd nationally. The 2016 team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs and finished ranked 8th in the final NCAA poll.
While at the University of Richmond, his offensive line units consistently ranked among the top in both the Colonial Athletic Association and the NCAA. The Spiders allowed only five sacks during the entire 2012 season in McCorkle’s first year on staff, ranking 3rd nationally. The 2013 squad set nearly every school passing record; the 2014 team ranked 1st in the CAA and 11th in the NCAA in fewest sacks allowed; and the 2015 and 2016 units each ranked 2nd in the CAA in scoring and total offense.
During the 2017 season at the University of Delaware, he coached two All-Colonial Athletic Conference (CAA) linemen as the Blue Hens finished 7-4, the most wins for the storied program since 2013.
While at Liberty University, McCorkle coached left guard Malcolm Boyd, who was named to the Associated Press third-team All-American squad in 2011. That same year Liberty led the Big South Conference in passing yards and pass efficiency and finished 2nd in scoring offense and total yards, averaging 35.9 points per game and 426.5 yards per game. The Flames were 8th in the NCAA in scoring and 20th in total offense.
In 2010, McCorkle had three players earn Big South all-conference honors, including first-team accolades for Alex Stadler and Justin Vargas. His group blocked for the nation’s leading offensive threat, quarterback Mike Brown, who finished 1st in the NCAA in total offense (346.36 yards per game). Statistically, Liberty’s offensive line flourished as the Flame’s five-man front finished 5th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (0.64 per game) and fewest tackles for a loss allowed (4.18 per game), while the Flames ended the year 2nd in the NCAA in total offense (459.91 yards per game).
Back at Liberty, McCorkle helped the Flames finish the 2009 campaign ranked 1st nationally by averaging 36.36 points per game. The Flames rushed for 31 touchdowns, a mark bested by only three other FCS programs that season. Liberty also ranked 2nd nationally in red zone efficiency (92%), 22nd in fewest tackles for a loss allowed (4.82/game) and 25th nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.36 per game). Four of McCorkle’s five starters on the 2009 offensive line unit earned Big South all-conference honors. Seniors Bryan Mosier and Josh Weaver were named to the Big South first team, while senior Mario Cosby and junior Alex Stadler took home second team accolades.
Sandwiched in between a pair of coaching runs with the Flames, McCorkle served as offensive tackles and tight ends coach at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2006, highlighted by a victory over perennial Southern Conference powerhouse Georgia Southern.
McCorkle first arrived at Liberty University in 2005, followed by a one-year stay with the program in 2007 as a strength coach and offensive line assistant. During the 2007 campaign, Liberty set a program standard by scoring 469 points while ranking 3rd in the NCAA in scoring offense (42.6 points per game). Liberty’s offensive line paved the way for a program-best 32 rushing touchdowns, en route to the first of the Flames’ four consecutive Big South Conference titles. He worked with Stephen Sene, helping the left tackle garner Big South first-team all-conference honors, a trip to the Hula Bowl, and a free-agent contract with the New England Patriots.
During the 2003 and 2004 campaigns, McCorkle was the offensive line coach at the University of the South, or Sewanee, an NCAA Division III program. His last collegiate position before joining the Liberty staff in 2009 was at Tennessee Tech University, where he served as the offensive line coach in 2008.
He served at the University of Tennessee-Martin during the 2000-2002 seasons. During his first season with the Skyhawks, McCorkle coached wide receivers, and then worked as the offensive line and tight ends coach in 2001 and 2002.
McCorkle got his coaching start fresh out of college, serving as a student assistant at his alma mater, LSU, in 1999. While with the Tigers, he helped with the offensive linemen and coordinated the defensive and special team scout units.
McCorkle is married to Gina (Lucido) and is the proud father of four children, Gracie, Emma, Audrey and Sammy. His father played collegiately at Livingston University, is a former college coach, and is part of the football staff at Oxford (MS) High School where his parents now reside. In addition, two of his cousins played college football at the University of Florida and East Tennessee State University.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2018-pres. - Belhaven (Head Coach)
2017 – Delaware (Offensive Line)
2012-16 –Richmond (Offensive Line)
2009-11 – Liberty (Offensive Line)
2008 – Tennessee Tech (Offensive Line)
2007 – Liberty (Offensive Line Assistant/Special Teams)
2006 – Chattanooga (Offensive Tackles/Tight Ends)
2005 – Liberty (Offensive Line)
2003-04 – Sewanee (Offensive Line)
2000-02 – Tennessee-Martin (Wide Receivers/Offensive Line/Tight Ends)
1999 – LSU (Student Assistant)
