Blanchard graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts in 2006. He worked there as a Sports Information Assistant for the 2016-17 school year and as the Sports Information Director at Salem University in West Virginia for the 2017-18 school year.

“We are delighted to welcome Jesse Blanchard to Southwestern University Athletics as our new Athletics Communications Director,” Athletic Director Dr. Glada Munt said. “He brings a great deal of sports information experience from professional to collegiate sports to our Athletic Department.   

“Jesse will join Annabel Fidler, who took over as the Pirates' Digital Media Coordinator last June.  Together we look forward to an exciting new era for our athletic communications and social media presence.”

For the past eight years, Blanchard has covered the NBA for a variety of outlets, including three years as Editor-in-Chief of BBALLBREAKDOWN. He was credentialed to cover the San Antonio Spurs from 2010-2014 for ESPN’s TrueHoop Network, writing the book Dynasty: The San Antonio Spurs’ Timeless 2014 Championship.

“I’m thankful for this opportunity to return to Texas and continue covering sports,” Blanchard said. “There’s something about the spirit of competition that brings out the best in people on and off the field or court and I love telling those stories.”

Blanchard played three years of baseball at John Jay High School in San Antonio and four years on the club basketball team at Our Lady of the Lake University. He and his wife currently reside in San Marcos.