Blanton, Dawley inducted into CSU athletic hall of fame

Dawley led volleyball teams to highest win % in school history.

CHARLESTON, SC - Former volleyball coach Amelia Dawley and former club football coach Bo Blanton were inducted into the Charleston Southern University Athletic Hall of Fame at the 2003 Athletic Awards banquet, held on campus on Monday night.

Dawley, then Amelia Martin, served as the head volleyball coach at then-named Baptist College from 1979 through the 1982 seasons. Her four-year coaching record was 122 wins and 66 losses, a winning percentage of .629, which is the highest winning percentage of any coach in the program's history.

In 1981, Baptist College won 34 matches, which still stands as the most wins in a single season in school history. Her 1982 squad nearly topped that, winning 33 matches. Dawley won more than 25 matches in three of her four seasons at the school. No other coach in the program's history has had three seasons of at least 25 wins.

Upon leaving Baptist College, Dawley served a five-year stint as the head volleyball coach at the College of Charleston before retiring from coaching to begin parenting. Nine years ago, Dawley returned to coaching, on the high school level. She has led Bishop England High School to five class AA State championships in her nine seasons as head coach.

When Baptist College decided to field a club football team in 1985, they turned to a former local high school star to aid in the process. Bo Blanton directed the Baptist College club football program from 1985 through 1990, laying the foundation for the eventual move into NCAA Division III in 1991 and then into NCAA Division I-AA status the following year.

During his six years as head coach of the club team, Baptist College posted an impressive 33-12 record, defeating junior varsity and clubs teams from schools such as Clemson, North Carolina, Furman, Appalachian State, The Citadel, and Presbyterian College. The initial squad, in 1985, posted a perfect 6-0 record and the last club team, in 1990, posted a 6-2 record.

Blanton played and graduated from Summerville High School and played in the North Carolina - South Carolina Shrine Bowl all-star game in his senior season. He then attended Clemson University on a football scholarship and later served as a graduate assistant coach on Clemson's 1981 National Championship team.

A lifelong resident of the Lowcountry, Blanton is currently the Manager of the Miler Country Club in Summerville and serves as Chairman of the Dorchester County District 2 School Board.