JR Blount was promoted to assistant coach on May 6, 2016, after serving two seasons as the Bulldogs' director of basketball operations. On April 14, 2017, current head coach Niko Medved added Blount to his staff.
“JR is clearly a rising star in the profession,” Medved said. “He has a great reputation and is an aggressive coach with a great work ethic that connects well with players, both on and off the court. He’s going to be a huge asset for us moving forward.”
Blount joined the Drake staff in 2014 following three successful seasons at Saint Leo University in Lakeland, Fla., where he was elevated to associate head coach for the 2013-14 season after two years as an assistant. As a student-athlete, Blount was a team captain and MVP at current Missouri Valley Conference member Loyola.
The Lions advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in each of his three seasons on staff and won the program’s first conference championship in 2012-13. He was also part of a NCAA Division III National Championship in 2009-10 as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
In addition to his on-court duties at Saint Leo, Blount oversaw the program’s scheduling, recruiting, summer camps and individual player development. One of his pupils, guard Jerrell Harris, earned Division II All-America honors in 2013-14, while the Lions led the Sunshine State Conference in team defense thanks in part to conference Defensive Player of the Year Shaun Adams. In 2012-13, the program won its first NCAA Tournament game and earned a top-10 national ranking for the first time.
Prior to joining the staff at Saint Leo, Blount played professionally for a season with the Leicester Riders of the British Basketball League. He led the team to the semifinals of the league championship, was ranked fourth in scoring and second in assists to earn All-Star and team MVP honors before returning to the sidelines.
Collegiately, Blount had a tremendous career at Loyola from 2005-09. He was the Ramblers team captain during his final three seasons and the squad’s MVP in 2008 and 2009. He finished his career ranked ninth in points and 10th in assists at Loyola and was the school’s Male Athlete of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
Upon graduating from Loyola with a degree in sociology and psychology Blount began his coaching career during the 2009-10 season at UW-Stevens Point. That season saw the program win a Division III national title while ranking in the top 10 nationally in both team offense and defense.
A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Blount was a standout high school player at Dominican High School where he earned all-state honors in 2004 and 2005 and was named the Wisconsin Sports Player of the Year in 2005.
