Blair Cavanaugh was named Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach in June 2025. Cavanaugh comes to Ohio by way of Incarnate Word, where he served as the special teams coordinator from 2022-24. The 2024 special teams squad was ranked No. 2 in among FCS teams by Hero Sports and No. 10 by Pro Focus Football (PFF). Notably, the 2022 squad led the Southland Conference in punt return averages and punt return touchdowns, finishing the season with three punt return touchdowns.
Cavanaugh arrived at UIW from Syracuse, where he supported multiple units as quality control before serving as the special teams coordinator for the 2021 season. The 2021 team finished third in the conference in kickoff average and landed two athletes on the All-PFF team, with Trebor Pena earning Third Team All-PFF accolades and Courtney Jackson earning Honorable Mention PFF accolades. In 2020, the special teams unit was ranked first among ACC competition and fifth in efficiency nationally. During his time with the Orange, he coached two All-American specialists, three all-conference specialists, one Lou Groza Award winner and two all-conference returners. Additionally, two Syracuse punters made it to the NFL: Sterling Hofrichter and Nolan Cooney.
Prior to Syracuse, Cavanaugh was a graduate assistant at Ball State for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, working with the wide receivers and quarterbacks. While in Muncie, Cavanaugh helped coach 2018 All-MAC selections Riley Miller and Justin Hall.
A collegiate wide receiver, Cavanaugh spent two years apiece at Portland State and Oregon State. Cavanaugh began his career with Oregon State and was a member of OSU's 2012 Alamo Bowl and 2013 Hawaii Bowl teams. In 2012, he was named Oregon State's Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year. Cavanaugh played his final two seasons at Portland State and helped the Vikings to the 2015 FCS playoffs.
Cavanaugh earned his bachelor's degree in social science from Portland State in 2016 and his master's degree from Ball State University in 2018.
