Dusty Blake - Pitching Coach - Baseball Coaches

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Dusty Blake

Title:
Pitching Coach
Email:
dusty.blake@duke.edu
Phone:
(919) 698-0932

Assistant coach Dusty Blake joined the Duke baseball staff in December of 2017 and enters his first season with the Blue Devils in 2017-18. As the team’s pitching coach, Blake handles the day-to-day operations for Duke pitchers in addition to managing scouting reports and organizing the program’s community service projects.

Blake has guided the Blue Devil pitching staff to new heights under his tutelage, setting single-season strikeout records in each of his two seasons in Durham. The Duke pitching staff proved to be electric all season long in 2019, recording 598 strikeouts to rank third in the ACC and 14^th in the nation. Duke closed out the campaign ranking 18^th in the country in strikeouts per nine innings with 9.7, while also placing third in the league in that category. The team’s 598 strikeouts served as a school record, shattering the program’s previous record of 575, which was set in 2018 in Blake's first season. The Blue Devils also set the school record in strikeouts per nine innings in the 2019 campaign, eclipsing the 2018 mark of 9.12.

As the head coach at Pfeiffer, an NCAA Division II program competing in Conference Carolinas, Blake led the Falcons to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003-04 while also leading the team to consecutive appearances in the conference tournament championship game. He was also responsible for the fundraising campaign that resulted in a new covered batting cage, digitally designed windscreen and padded backstop, practice infield, field lights, and outdoor weight training station. As associate athletic director, Blake was responsible for the oversight of all the Falcons’ athletic facilities including daily maintenance, upgrades and improvements.

Prior to his time with the Falcons, Blake spent the 2012 season at USC Upstate, managing the Spartans’ pitching staff while also responsible for recruiting, practice planning, and strength and conditioning. Under Blake’s guidance, USC Upstate won 33 games as well as decreased its walk total and increased its strikeout total. He mentored left hander Scott DeCecco, a 21st round MLB Draft pick by the Seattle Mariners.

From 2008-11, Blake served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Wofford College. In addition to helping develop John Cornely, a 15th round draft pick by the Atlanta Braves, Blake led the Terriers pitching staff to its lowest batting average against since 2000 and its best team ERA since 1985.

Blake’s coaching career began at Pfeiffer in 2005 when he served as the Falcons’ pitching coach and outfield instructor. He then spent two seasons as the pitching coach at Catawba College as well as coaching the Asheboro Copperheads of the Coastal Plain League during the summer of 2007.

Since 2012, Blake has served on the advisory board for Baseball for Life, a non-profit organization that hosts free clinics, repairs fields, provides equipment and offers mentorship opportunities within the Charlotte community.

Blake graduated from Appalachian State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education while also playing baseball for the Mountaineers from 1999-2003. He received his master’s degree in organizational business and leadership from Pfeiffer in 2006.

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