After a whirlwind first year on Northwestern State’s staff, Beau Blair enters his second season with a chance to leave his imprint on the Demon offense.
Blair came to Natchitoches as an offensive line coach but was thrust into the offensive coordinator’s role less than two weeks ahead of NSU’s 2022 season opener at Montana.
Despite the upheaval, Blair made a smooth transition to his new post, helping build an NSU offense that produced the Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year (wide receiver Zach Patterson) and the first NSU quarterback to throw for 300 or more yards in five straight games.
Under Blair, NSU ranked 18th nationally in passing yards per game (268.9) and gave up the fewest sacks in the Southland (five, down 17 from 2021). The Demons saw a five-point per game increase in Southland play from the previous season and gained 60 more yards per conference game.
Blair’s first Demon offense also featured four all-conference performers — first-team tight end Travon Jones and second teamers Zachary Clement (quarterback), Patterson and Javon Antonio (wide receiver).
Blair came to Natchitoches after spending the 2021 season as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at New Mexico Highlands.
In his lone season there, Blair coordinated an offense that produced five all-conference players, including the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year – wide receiver CJ Sims. Under Blair, the Cowboys offense led the RMAC in passing offense and was second in total offense, producing a top-25 season nationally.
Prior to his time at New Mexico Highlands, Blair spent two seasons as an offensive line coach at Incarnate Word. Blair helped mold a Cardinals offensive line into a unit that blocked for a top-20 FCS passing offense while helping UIW average 5.1 yards per carry and record a single-game school record 402 yards rushing.
Blair was a graduate assistant offensive line coach at Houston in 2018, helping the Cougars rank fourth nationally in scoring offense (46.4 ppg) and sixth in total offense (538.6 yards per game) despite ranking 128th of 130 teams in time of possession.
A Gilmer, Texas, native, Blair began his collegiate coaching career at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, coaching tight ends and assisting with the offensive line. The Fire was the No. 1 NAIA scoring offense in 2017 and No. 2 in total offense while producing an all-conference tight end.
Blair spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Jacksonville (Texas) High School where he also was the strength and conditioning coordinator and head powerlifting coach. With Blair on staff, Jacksonville broke an eight-year playoff drought and produced a quarterback who rushed for 2,150 yards. Blair also coached one offensive lineman who continued his career in college.
Blair began his coaching career at Diboll (Texas) High School as the offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator, helping Diboll improve from a 1-9 mark to 5-5 in his lone season.
A 2014 graduate of Stephen F. Austin in liberal studies, Blair also holds a master’s degree in human performance and sport from New Mexico Highlands.
Blair and his fiancée, Lauren Twardowski, were engaged in June 2022.
