Bryant University Men's Golf

Blanchard enters his sixth season as head coach of the Bryant University mens golf program in 2016-17.   The 2013-14 season was a historic one for Blanchard and the Bulldogs, as the third-year head coach led his program to its first-ever Northeast Conference title and Division I NCAA tournament appearance. After being picked to finish first in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Black and Gold did not disappoint, taking its first conference championship by an eight-stroke margin. In all, the Bulldogs secured eight top-5 finishes on the year, including wins at the Blue Devils Fall Invitational and the NEC Championships, and saw three of their own grab All-NEC First Team nods in Joe Walp, Ryan Tombs and Kyle Buschmann. Tombs was also named the NEC Rookie of the Year, the second-straight season a Bulldog has claimed the honor (Buschmann 2013). The Bulldogs were strong once again in 2014-15, finishing second at the NEC Championship while taking home five top-5 and nine top-10 team finishes. After tying for first at the NEC Championship as a rookie, Tombs took home second as a sophomore, leading three top-10 individual finishers. Walp and Buschmann, who joined him in the top-10, earned all-conference first and second team nods, respectively. Blanchard's Bulldogs elevated their play to an even greater level in 2015-16, finishing second at the NEC Championship for a second-straight season. Bryant trailed Wagner College by five strokes heading to the 18th hole of the third and final day. The Bulldogs tied for the lead on 18 to force a playoff, but were narrowly edged out by the Seahawks. Tombs nearly avenged his second-place finish from the season before, as he partook in and dropped a playoff of his own after being tied for the individual lead following round three. The Black and Gold had a pair of individual victories in 2015-16 from Buschmann and Walp, two overall team wins, two second-place finishes and four additional top-five placements. McKinley Slade became a force on the course, earning NEC Golfer of the Month three times behind seven top-10 finishes and three second-place finishes, en route to being named NEC Golfer of the Year. It marked the first time a Bulldog had garnered the disinction since Jason Thresher (2010). Joining Slade on the All-NEC First Team were Buschmann and Tombs.   After a very successful first year in 2011-12, Blanchard's team excelled on the course in 2012-13. The Bulldogs earned eight top-5 finishes as a team, including the Division I title at the NEIGA Championship. The Black and Gold also placed first at the Prisco Boulet Shootout and earned top-3 finishes at The Connecticut Cup, the Lonnie Barton Invitational and the Rhody Invitational. Bryant also finished fifth at the NEC Championships. Blanchard also saw freshman Kyle Buschmann have a standout rookie campaign, as he was named the NEC Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-NEC selection. During his first season at Bryant, Blanchard led the Bulldogs to six top-10 finishes, including two second-place showings at the NEIGA Championship and the Hurricane Fusillade Challenge. We are very excited to name Charlie as the next head coach of the Bryant University mens golf program, said Director of Athletics Bill Smith. He brings a tremendous amount of experience to the program, and having served as an assistant coach with our mens lacrosse program for the past five years, his familiarity with Bryant and the golf program will certainly help us compete against the best in the region. A familiar face on the local golf circuit, Blanchard brings a decorated resume to the Bryant program. A six-time Rhode Island Golf Association Player of the Year selection, Blanchard captured the R.I. Amateur Championship in 2002. That year, he was the only golfer to win all five Rhode Island major tournaments and was recognized as the New England Golf Journal New England Player of the Year. A three-time United States Golf Association (USGA) Sectional Qualifier, Blanchard has won seven R.I. Mid-Amateur Championships during his career, most recently in 2009 and 2010, and captured four R.I. Stroke Play Championships, including the 2011 title. Blanchard has also claimed five titles at the John P. Burke Memorial Championship. A 1984 graduate of Rocky Hill School in East Greenwich, R.I., Blanchard was a two-sport standout at Ohio Wesleyan University in both soccer and mens lacrosse. A two-time All-Ohio and NCAC Conference selection in soccer, Blanchard was a two-time USILA First Team All-American selection in lacrosse and was named the USILA Midfielder of the Year in 1987. Upon graduating, Blanchard played professional lacrosse as a member of the Boston Blazers from 1990-97. During his professional career, he earned five game MVP honors and was selected to the first-ever Major Indoor Lacrosse League All-Star Game. From 2007-11 (five seasons), Blanchard served as an assistant mens lacrosse coach on Mike Presslers staff at Bryant University. Blanchard took over the Bulldog golf program for Archie Boulet, who retired in 2011 after a remarkable 47-year career.

Bio Coached high school men's golf from 2013-2023... Won two state championships in 2017 and 2021... Won eight central division championships, three challenge cup championships, and five state runner-ups... led his team to two Hendricken International Championships... During his time as a coach, he recorded sixteen all-state selections, 32 all-division selections and had a career record of 109-2 in division matches... Was named the Warwick Beacon Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2017... In 2016 he was named the RI High School Coach of the Year and the Northeast Regional Coach of the Year.