Indian Land names defensive coordinator as new head coach
The Indian Land Warriors have hired former NFL player Horatio Benedict “H.B.” Blades Jr., 32, to be their new head varsity football coach.
“I always wanted to be a head coach. I always wanted to have my own program to run,” Blades said.
He takes over for Athletic Director and former head coach Michael Mayer, who stepped down following the 2016 season after 16 years leading the Indian Land football program.
Blades, the son of former Pro Bowl defensive back Bennie Blades, has a long pedigree of football in his blood. He is the nephew of former Seattle Seahawks’ receiver Brian Blades and the late San Francisco 49ers’ safety Al Blades.
H.B. Blades was drafted by Washington in 2007 out of the University of Pittsburgh in the sixth round. Blades played four seasons in the NFL, all with Washington. He amassed 139 tackles in 64 games with Washington. The experience of playing major college and then NFL football should pay dividends in his coaching career, Blades said.
“It taught me a lot of things and how to play the game the right way,” he said.
Blades has been a part of the Indian Land football staff for the past three seasons as defensive coordinator where his guidance helped to set school records for defense. Some of the defensive records set while he was the school’s defensive coordinator include most tackles for losses in a season (75), sacks in a season (25), sack yards loss in a season (120), sacks per game in a season (2.3), tackles for loss in a single game (14) and sack yards in a game (25).
The bond Blades formed with the players helped motivate him to become a candidate to succeed Mayer.
“As an educator you want your kids to want you to be around and once they told me they wanted me around and wanted me to apply for the job that pretty much validated for me that I was going to apply for the job,” he said.
Indian Land High Principal David Shamble said he was happy to find a “gem” right in the school’s backyard.
“Sometimes when you do a search, you find the gem right in your school,” Shamble said. “He is a man of high character, he’s respected by students, staff and parents, and he’s ready for this step. We expect him to be very successful.”
Before coming to Indian Land, Blades worked at Parkwood High in Monroe, N.C., where he was also a coordinator. In 2013, he helped Parkwood reach the state semifinals. Blades is currently a transition job facilitator at Indian Land.
Even though he’s been a defensive specialist, Blades has already been giving some thought to the other side of the ball, saying he’s planning to install a spread offense.
A former first team All-American in college as a senior, Blades was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. He graduated from Pittsburgh with a degree in criminal justice.
This story was originally published December 20, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Indian Land names defensive coordinator as new head coach."