Jesse Merrill Blanchard (April 26, 1881 â April 3, 1914) was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, and baseball, and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at the College of William & Mary (1904âÂÂ1905, 1910), Washington University in St. Louis (1906âÂÂ1907), and Whitman College (1908âÂÂ1909).
Blanchard played college football as a quarterback at Bowdoin College.
Blanchard was the first head coach of the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team, in 1905âÂÂ06. In the inaugural season of William & Mary's basketball program, Blanchard led the team to a 4âÂÂ1 record. It was his first and last season with the Tribe despite the success. Blanchard also coached the William & Mary football team from 1904 to 1905 and again in 1910, compiling a record of 6âÂÂ14âÂÂ2.
Blanchard died on April 3, 1914, at his mother-in-law's home in Williamsburg, Virginia.