HOMETOWN: Hampton, Va.
BIRTHDATE: March 22, 1980
EDUCATION: B.S., North Carolina, 2003
COACHING: McMurry, 2012-13
Belhaven, 2014-17
Memphis Express (AAF), 2019
Dallas Renegades (XFL), 2020
Norfolk State, 2022
Hampton, 2018, 2023-present
Hampton native, Bobby Blizzard returned to his hometown as an assistant coach at Hampton in February 2023 after spending one season as an assistant at nearby Norfolk State. He was also a member of the Pirate coaching staff in 2018.
As co-offensive coordinator, he guided the Pirates to the second-ranked offense in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and 16th best offense in the FCS. Hampton amassed 2,350 yards on the ground, an average of 195.8 per contest. In addition, the Pirates averaged 29.6 points per game, an improvement of 6.3 points per game in 2024.
The veteran coach has experience in both the collegiate and professional ranks during his career. Blizzard began his coaching journey at Division III McMurry under legendary offensive genius Hal Mumme, one of the founders of the air raid offense. Blizzard served as wide receivers coach for two seasons and coached Greg Livingston, who went on to the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs.
Blizzard followed Mumme to Belhaven where he spent four years on the staff as offensive coordinator/play caller. Nine of his players earned All-America recognition as the team racked up incredible offensive numbers as the offense was ranked in the top three in the nation in passing in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
In 2018, Blizzard moved to the Division I level as receivers coach at Hampton. The Pirates amassed more than 2,000 yards and produced 24 passing touchdowns.
Blizzard joined the professional ranks where he served as offensive coordinator and receivers coach for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football under Coach Mike Singletary. Three of his players signed NFL contracts at the conclusion of the season.
He moved to the XFL’s Dallas Renegades where he was running backs coach for Coach Bob Stoops. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and assumed the team’s play-calling duties after the fifth game of the season. Two of his players earned NFL contract after the league disbanded following the outbreak of COVID.
He returned to the collegiate ranks as running backs coach at Norfolk State in 2022. After a year with the Spartans, he was named wide receivers coach at Hampton.
A standout tight end himself, Blizzard spent parts of four seasons in the professional ranks. He had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL and with the Hamburg Sea Devils and Cologne Centurions in NFL Europe. He was a member of the NFL Europe all-star teams in 2005 and 2007.
Blizzard played collegiately for both Kentucky and North Carolina. He ended his college career with 78 receptions for 876 yards and six touchdowns.
A member of the NFL Players Association and American Football Coaches Association, Blizzard also was selected to attend the 2017 NCAA/NFL Coaches Academy. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from North Carolina in 2003.
