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In his 14th season, 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, just two years after the Navy women's soccer team was elevated to Division-I status.

Blanck knows nothing other than winning, 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 14 years as a coach, all of his teams have posted winning records.

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 five all-league goalkeepers -- three-time All-Patriot League honoree Amy Hakola, two-time all-league selection Sarah Wilson, 2001 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Kate Macfarlane, three-time all-league Kim Bonafede and 2006 Patriot League Goalkeeper of the Year Lizzie Barnes. Hakola, Navy's all-time saves leader (479) was a four-year starter (1994-97), while Wilson's 11.5 shutouts in 1998 stood as the Mids' single-season record until this past fall when Barnes broke it. Macfarlane played just two seasons for the Mids, but ended her career with a 1.00 goals-against average and 10.1 shutouts. Bonafede scorched the Navy record books in 2002 with her 0.36 GAA, and set the Mids' all-time shutouts record with 22. Barnes, meanwhile, set program records for single-season GAA (0.29), save percentage (.933) and shutouts (13) in 2006. Her breakout sophomore campaign earned her a spot on the 2007 Preseason Hermann Trophy Watch List; the first time any Navy player has been recognized on the prestigious list.

Over the last 10 seasons, the Navy defensive unit has held its opponents to just 199 goals (19.9 goals per year) and produced a 0.89 goals-against average. In 1998, Navy set the tone with a then record-breaking 14 shutouts. Twice in the last six years, Navy's defense has held its opponents to single-digit goals for the entire season (8 in 2002 & 9 in 2006).

Blanck was also instrumental in recruiting Justine Fisher, a four-time All-Patriot League selection, as well as developing Nicole Aunapu, the first women's soccer player to garner all-league recognition all four years and one of only two Mids (Kari Weniger '07) to twice earn Academic All-America honors.

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, he served as an assistant coach at Boston College -- three years with the women's soccer team and two seasons with the men. During his stay in Chestnut Hill, he helped guide the Eagles to postseason play three-consecutive years, while Boston College also appeared in the national rankings.

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 five years.

Blanck and his wife, the former Kristin Buckley, were married on July 29, 2006, and are the parents of a one-year-old son, Caden.