Blake Dutton graduated from McAdory High School in May of 2000. Blake played football and wrestled for the Yellow Jackets. He played football for AHSAA Hall of Fame Coach David Powell wrestled for Coach Keith Maple. Both men had a huge impact on his life and are a major reason why Blake decided to become a coach. Following graduation from high school Blake attended the University of Alabama. In May of 2005, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He then attended the University of West Alabama where he earned a Master’s degree in History and a Master’s in Secondary Education. 

In 2006 Blake returned to McAdory and began his teaching and coaching career at McAdory Middle School. Blake coached middle school wrestling and football and served as an assistant coach for the varsity wrestling program alongside James Thompson and Paul Dabbs. In 2010 Blake moved to McAdory High School and in 2012 he became the head coach of the varsity wrestling team. While Blake has helped coach many other sports at McAdory, he is most passionate about the sport of wrestling. 

In 1995, while in middle school, Blake was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. As a multisport athlete, this was hard news to hear, but it never slowed him down. From 2018-2020 Blake experienced vascular complications in his foot and ankle from diabetes. It was during this period that McAdory won their first State Championship in 2019. In July of 2021, after silently suffering through 3 wrestling seasons in a cast or walking boot, Blake and his doctor decided that it was best to have a lower leg amputation. This was a difficult process, but Blake’s grit and determination helped him come out on top and display how to overcome adversity to his wrestlers. He was even able to get back on the practice mat with his wrestlers.

In 2023, Blake became ill the weekend before sectionals and was quickly diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. What started as a small pain in the arch of his right foot was quickly diagnosed and required immediate emergency surgery. They would have to amputate his other leg. This surgery left him battling sepsis in the ICU while his assistant coaches Robert Wilkerson and Sergei Kilic took the wrestling team to sectionals. Blake was able to recover enough strength to watch sectionals from track wrestling and called each wrestler after they competed. The following Sunday many of his wrestlers showed up at the hospital to support their coach. This display of loyalty lifted his spirits and helped give him the strength to be released from the hospital that week. Even after losing both legs and surviving sepsis, with his wife's love and support, Blake rolled into the State Tournament to lead the Yellow Jackets to their second 6A State Title. 

Despite the setbacks and health problems recently experienced, Blake has continued his successful career as the Yellow Jackets head wrestling coach. During his tenure, McAdory has become one of the top programs in Alabama, winning the 6A Team State Championship in 2019 and 2023 and finishing as the 6A State Duals Runner Up in 2022. Blake’s Duals Record at McAdory in 386-164. Blake has coached 130 State Qualifiers, 57 State Placers, 18 State Finalists, and 14 State Champions while McAdory’s head coach.

Blake has won several Coaching Awards over the years. After McAdory won their second State Title in 2023, he was awarded 6A Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Alabama Wrestling Coaches Association (ALWCA). In 2019 and 2023, he was awarded the NWCA Alabama High School Head Coach of the Year. In 2023, Blake went on to win NWCA High School Head Coach of Year for Section 3 and the 2023 NWCA National High School Head Wrestling Coach Award. He is the first coach from the state of Alabama to win the national award.

Blake began dating his beautiful wife Samantha in the Summer of 2011, and they married in June 2015. Samantha teaches third grade at McCalla Elementary School. Blake and Samantha do not have any children, but they are currently in the adoption process. For now, they share their home with their two English Bulldogs, Franklin and Murphy.