James Blanchard - General Manager - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

James Blanchard

Title:
General Manager

James Blanchard was named the first member of head coach Joey McGuire's charter staff at Texas Tech as he serves as General Manager and oversees the Red Raiders' personnel department.

Blanchard began the rise of the general manager role in college football soon after joining McGuire in Lubbock, immediately reshaping the Red Raiders’ entire recruiting process from scouting to on-campus visits as part of Texas Tech’s unique model that resembles an NFL front office.

Few, if any, general managers across college football have the autonomy Blanchard enjoys under McGuire. Blanchard and his staff are responsible for identifying every prospect Texas Tech ultimately offers a scholarship opportunity, allowing McGuire and his coaching staff to prioritize player development and opponent scouting, especially during the season.

That setup has transformed the Red Raiders’ roster in only three seasons as Texas Tech has signed two top-25 classes of high school prospects and then the No. 1 portal class in the country this past offseason. Texas Tech’s 2023 class ranked as high as No. 23 nationally by Rivals, marking its highest-rated class in more than a decade. The 2024 class, meanwhile, also ranked as high as No. 23 nationally and was the highest-rated class in the Big 12.

In the transfer portal this past offseason, Blanchard and his staff utilized a strategy of combing the country for the best possible targets months in advance, making the Red Raiders one of the best teams – if not the first – to offer a scholarship opportunity. The process brought rave reviews with On3.com calling it the best portal class in the country and 247Sports ranking the class of 20 transfers at No. 2 nationally.

Considered one of the top personnel directors in college football, Blanchard was named one of the top rising personnel and recruiting staffers in college football by On3.com in August 2022. He was also named to the 40 Under 40 list compiled by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in its summer 2025 edition of the top coaches and football personnel in the state.

Blanchard was in the midst of his second stint as Baylor’s Assistant Athletics Director for scouting prior to joining McGuire upon his hire in November 2021. Blanchard had previously rejoined the Baylor football staff in January 2021 where he was responsible for identifying and pursuing prospective scholarship student-athletes. He previously served as Director of Recruiting for the Bears from March 2019 to May 2020 before accepting a position with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

While with the Panthers, Blanchard was responsible for breaking down opponent film and evaluating potential free agents for Carolina's front office. He departed Baylor for the NFL alongside former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule, who accepted the Panthers head coaching position following the 2019 season.

A native of Orange, Texas, Blanchard was a member of the football program at West Orange-Stark High School before later studying psychology at Lamar University.

He is married to the former Kiara Fowler. The couple has five children – Kenley, Karrington, Karter, Kali and Kason.