UTPB Athletics

Robert Blakely is in his first season as an assistant coach for UT Permian Basin volleyball.   

Blakley spent the last three years (2020-22) as the head coach of Vernon College (Texas) at the NJCAA level.  He helped the Chaps qualify for the post-season all three times and had six all-conference and two All-Region first team selections.  Blakely helped in the development of Danika Washington who was the Region V Offensive Player of the Year and was selected to the NJCAA All-American second team.  The Chaps would see 13 of his players move on to the NCAA and NAIA levels. 

Blakely has 18 years’ experience in club and high school. He had over 400 wins in high school and in 2016 led Weimar to the Class 2A State Semi-Finals in two sports. He was also able to lead The Midland Lee (Legacy) Volleyball team to its most successful season in school history. From that team alone, he sent one DIII, one DI and two to the Lonestar (one to win a National Championship and one to become an All-Conference player at UTPB, and now is playing oversees.

Blakley was a four-sport athlete who didn't get the opportunity to play volleyball until he started the men's club program at Tarleton State.  He has a B.S. in Kinesiology from Tarleton State and is working towards his Masters in Sports Administration.