Hall of Fame
After stellar football careers at Farragut High school in Knoxville, TN and the University of Arkansas, where he lettered for four years, John Bland’s love of football became his calling. After serving as a graduate assistant at Auburn University and coaching on the high school level for two years, Bland moved to the collegiate level; first at Southern Arkansas University and then at Rice University in Houston, TX. In 2006, Coach Bland and his family made their way to Williamsburg, Kentucky and to University of the Cumberlands where he was named head football coach.
During his eight years at UC, Bland led the Patriot football teams to a 70-21 record and five Mid-South Conference Division championships. There were 6 play-off appearances, 5 conference championships, and many award winning players that changed the culture of UC football. One moment at UC that stands above the rest for Coach Bland was the overtime victory in the semi-finals against national power, Carroll College, securing a spot for the Patriots in the National Championship game in 2013.
In 2014, Coach Bland became the head football coach at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. He and his wife Candis have three children, Shreve, Jade, and Bo.
