The 2023-24 season was the fifth for Paul Blankenship as a volunteer assistant for WKU Tennis.
Blankenship was previously the head coach at Rice, where he complied a 279-169 all-time record in his collegiate head coaching career that began in 1981.
In his initial season, he immediately vaulted Rice into the national conversation, leading the Owls to a school-record 25 wins and guiding Tracie Blumentritt and Susan Rudd to the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national doubles title. In 1983, the Owls were 20-3, setting a school record for winning percentage (.869) and rising to as high as 19th in the national poll.
Blankenship led Rice to the NCAA championships in four consecutive seasons (1996-1999) and saw the Owls host the NCAA Southwest Regional at Jake Hess Tennis Stadium in 1997. Blumentritt and Rudd were joined by Wendy Wood in 1985 and '86 as All-Americans under Blankenship. In addition, he produced three SWC doubles champions and two singles champs and was the SWC Coach of the Year in 1994 after the Owls finished second in the conference.
His record of sustained excellence was not limited to the courts. Over his career, he saw 92% of his players complete their careers on South Main with a 100% graduation rate.
