Former Sandite, Sooner Head Coach John Blake dies at 59

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John Blake, a Charles Page High School alumni and former player and coach at the University of Oklahoma, reportedly died of a heart attack Thursday morning at the age of 59. The news was broken by News 9 Sports Director Dean Blevins.

Blake was the son of James and Dorothy Blake and graduated from CPHS in 1979. He was a four-year letterman at fullback and nose guard under Head Coach A.D. James. He was named to the All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-State teams his junior and senior years and was the Most Valuable Player in the 1979 All-State Game.

Blake was recruited by University of Oklahoma Head Coach Barry Switzer and was a three-year letterman at nose guard. He was twice named the Big 8 Defensive Player of the Week and was named to the All-Big 8 Second Team. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts & Sciences degree and remained at OU as a graduate assistant from 1984 to 1987.

In 1988 Blake became an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa, then returned to OU from 1989 to 1992 as an assistant coach. In 1993 he was named the Defensive Line Coach for the Dallas Cowboys, helping the team to two Super Bowl wins.

Blake was inducted into the Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame in 1996. He once again returned to his alma mater in 1996, this time as Head Coach. In three seasons leading the Sooners he amassed a 12-22 record, but saw success in recruiting, despite the poor record. Over half of Bob Stoops’s 2000 National Championship team starters were recruited by Blake.

Blake never again held a Head Coaching position, returning to his old position as Defensive Line Coach for Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, and the Buffalo Bills before retiring in 2016.