Beginning his 31st season in 2025, Rob Blanck has been alongside head coach Carin Gabarra from nearly day one in building Navy's women's soccer program. Blanck came to the Academy in 1995, two years after Navy elevated to varsity status.
Blanck knows nothing other than success, having been a member of the Williams College varsity soccer team that produced a winning record all four years in which he played, while in his 34 years as a coach, 30 of his teams have posted winning records. Blanck has played a key role in all aspects of the Navy women’s soccer program during his tenure.
Blanck's background as an All-America goalkeeper has been a key element in developing Navy's corps of goalkeepers. Under his tutelage, Navy has produced nine all-league keepers -- three-time honoree Amy Hakola, two-time selection Sarah Wilson, 2001 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Kate Macfarlane, three-time all-leaguer Kim Bonafede, two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and the conference's career GAA leader Lizzie Barnes, 2009 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Beth Reed, 2012 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Elizabeth Hoerner, two-time honoree Dayton Wetherby and 2017 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Sydney Fortson, a three-time honoree.
Barnes, the most decorated netminder in program history, led the nation and set program records for GAA (0.29) and save percentage (.933) in 2006, while posting 13 shutouts - also a Navy record. She graduated as the Navy career leader in GAA (0.65), a career mark which stands 20th all-time in NCAA history. She also holds the school shutout record with 29. In addition to her athletic exploits, Barnes was one of three Navy student-athletes ever to twice earn First Team Academic All-America kudos.
Reed stepped in to replace Barnes in 2009 and promptly was honored as the league's top goalkeeper. Reed ranked 10th in the nation in save percentage and was a part of a goalkeeping unit that produced 11 shutouts. Over the last seven seasons, Blanck's influence has been evident as Navy has only had a goals-against-average over 1.00 for one season. Navy's defensive unit also allowed just nine goals in the entire 2006 season and just eight in 2002.
The Mids' defensive prowess has never been more evident than in recent years. Navy owned the top-ranked Patriot League's defensive unit in three-consecutive seasons (2007-09), posting an 0.63 GAA while allowing only 45 goals with 42 shutouts.
In 2011, Navy posted nine shutouts and had a goals-against average of just 0.90. The 2012 squad led the Patriot League in goals-against average (0.91) and shutouts (nine).
The Mids' 2017 defensive corps held its opposition in check throughout the season to the tune of 13 shutouts and three other contests with only one goal allowed. Navy's 0.619 shutout percentage ranked No. 12 in the NCAA Division I ranks.
Navy’s defensive effort in 2018 was stout once again as the Mids allowed just 19 goals over 20 games for a 0.92 goals against average. Navy’s opponents were held to one or fewer goals in 15 contests and two or less scores in 19 of 20 games, while recording just 3.95 shots on goal per game, the lowest mark in the Patriot League.
As the team fought its way back into the NCAA Tournament as Patriot League Champions in 2019, Blanck's defensive corps was stout again as Navy went 16-3-3 with a 6-1-2 mark in Patriot League conference play. As a unit, the Mids' defense shut out their opposition 13 times over 22 games and allowed just two goals in nine Patriot League regular season contests. Teams were only able to get 2.77 shots on Navy's goal per game. Nationally, Navy's 0.523 goal against average was 13th-lowest in the NCAA DI ranks.
Navy repeated as conference champions the following season in a COVID-19 impact campaign. After playing three ACC opponents in the fall, the Mids hit their stride in an abbreviated spring season and closed with a 4-0-3 streak over their final seven games, including a victory in the Patriot League Semifinals and a shootout decision over Colgate in the Patriot League Championship to give the team its fifth postseason league title. Navy also forced a penalty kick shootout in the first round of the 2020-21 NCAA Championship tournament, but fell to New Mexico, 4-2. As a unit, Navy's defense held opponents to one or less goals in each of the final seven games of the season.
Navy’s 2021 team was once again at or near the top of most of the defensive metrics in the Patriot League. Fostering growth in a young roster, the Mids’ defense allowed one or fewer goals in each of the final nine contests of the season, including clean sheets versus Patriot League foes Loyola, American and Holy Cross.
The Mids’ 2022 squad was spearheaded by defense and Blanck’s acumen as the team allowed just 0.95 goals per game and turned in eight shutouts over 19 contests. Navy was tested throughout the 2022 campaign with 10 games being decided by one or fewer goals.
Navy continued its winning ways in 2023 with a 9-7-3 record. Blanck’s expertise with scouting opponents and defense was leaned on significantly as the Mids saw 11 of its 19 games decided by one goal or less, including ties against St. John’s and Maryland and a one-goal decision versus Virginia Tech. Overall, Navy’s defense posted six clean sheets and a 1.05 goals against average.
With Blanck once again directing the defensive effort in 2024, the Mids found their way back to the Patriot League Tournament while playing with a freshman goalkeeper in Natasha Stramrood, as Navy's defense posted four clean sheets and held opponents to one goal on eight other occasions. Blanck's defenders were also a key part in Navy being bestowed with the Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Bronze Award by the United Soccer Coaches organization, as the Mids collected just 10 yellow cards over their 21 games.
Blanck was also instrumental in recruiting Justine Fisher, a four-time All-Patriot League selection, as well in developing Nicole Aunapu, the first Navy women's soccer player to garner all-league kudos all four years. In the summer of 2003, Blanck was selected to coach the United States in the CISM World Military Games in Germany. He guided the team, which included three former Naval Academy standouts -- Cristina Esposito (`98), Tara Refo (`00), and Sarah Wilson (`01), to a bronze medal with a pair of wins over neighboring Canada.
Prior to his arrival in Annapolis, Blanck served as an assistant coach at Boston College -- working three years as the top assistant with the women's soccer team, while doubling as a men's assistant for two of those seasons. While in Chestnut Hill, he helped guide the Eagles to a winning record and postseason play for three straight years, while Boston College appeared in the national rankings, reaching as high as No. 18.
A native of Weston, Mass., Blanck graduated from Williams College in 1989, where he captained the soccer team to two regional titles and earned First-Team All-America honors after setting four national goalkeeping records. Blanck compiled a 46-4-0 record as a college goalkeeper. He also played baseball and received the Fox Award (in honor of a Navy pilot killed in the Korean War) for recognition of achievements of character and sportsmanship.
Prior to coaching full time, Blanck worked for the Boston Red Sox for two years and completed his Master's Degree in sports management at the University of Massachusetts. He received a second master's in business administration from Babson College. Blanck has received his NSCAA advanced national diploma and his USFF "A" coaching license. He has also served on the staff for the Maryland Olympic Development Program for seven years.
Blanck and his wife, Kristin are the parents of two sons, Caden and Anderson. Caden is a member of the University of Richmond's baseball team.
