J. Merrill Blanchard
Jesse Merrill Blanchard was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the College of William & Mary, Washington University in St. Louis, and Whitman College.
Blanchard played college football as a quarterback at Bowdoin College.
Coaching career
Blanchard was the first head coach of the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team, in 1905–06. In the inaugural season of William & Mary's basketball program, Blanchard led the team to a 4–1 record. It was his first and last season with the Tribe despite the success. Blanchard also coached the William & Mary football team from 1904 to 1905 and again in 1910, compiling a record of 6–14–2.
Death
Blanchard died on April 3, 1914, at his mother-in-law's home in Williamsburg, Virginia.