Michael Blair enters his third season as an assistant coach at Trinity.  A 2006 graduate of the College with a bachelor's degree in history, Blair is now the defensive line coach and a strength and conditioning assistant, after coaching the outside linebackers last fall as a graduate assistant. Blair returned to his alma mater, after spending the 2006 season as an assistant defensive line coach at Williams College.  Blair is pursuing his master's degree in economics at Trinity.

Last season, Blair led a strong defensive line, ranking 15th nationally in rushing defense.  The defense recorded 49.5 tackles for a loss in 2008, and 73 tackles for a loss in 2007.  In addition, the defense recorded 16 sacks in 2008, good for fourth in the league, and 25 sacks in 2007, good for first in the league.  Five of the front seven from the 2008 roster will be returning for the 2009 campaign. 

Blair was an All-American football defensive lineman and wrestler at Trinity and was awarded the 2006 George Sheldon McCook Trophy as the College's top senior male athlete.  Blair was selected to the 2005 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III All-American First Team and as both the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Division II/III and the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year that year.  In addition, Blair was chosen for and played in the Aztec Bowl in his senior year as a member of the AFCA Division III All-Star Team.  A three-time all-league, a two-time All-ECAC and All-New England Division II/III selection, and the 2002 NESCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year, Blair set a Bantam record for career tackles for loss (37). He was also the first wrestler in New England to win four New England titles and to earn All-American honors four years in a row. He was also an All-New England shot-putter for the Trinity track and field team.