Candis Blankson - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Coach - DePaul University Athletics

Candis Blankson

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
cblankso@depaul.edu
Phone:
(773) 325-7507

A veteran of the DePaul system, assistant coach Candis Blankson is entering her 24th year on the staff. A true champion of the DePaul program, Blankson wore the Blue Demon uniform in over 100 games from 1997-01 before becoming an assistant coach prior to the 2001-02 campaign.

Since Blankson joined the staff, the Blue Demons have won an impressive 500 games, had 17 20-win seasons and put together a stretch of 18-straight NCAA Tournament berths. The Blue Demons stretch of 18-straight tournaments is a streak matched only by women's college basketball elite of Connecticut, Stanford and Tennessee. DePaul also advanced to four Sweet 16s in that time period (2006, 2011, 2014 and 2016).

Blankson has helped contribute to the program winning six BIG EAST regular-season titles. The 88-74 triumph over Marquette on March 9, 2020 at Wintrust Arena gave DePaul its fifth BIG EAST Tournament crown in a seven-year span. During her tenure on the bench, she has worked with more than 50 all-conference performers, including two BIG EAST Freshman of the Year award-winners, four Sixth Player of the Year award winners, five BIG EAST Tournament MVPs and BIG EAST Player of the Year Brittany Hrynko (2015), Chanise Jenkins (2016) and Brooke Schulte (2017).

Making academics a priority, the Blue Demons have become a mainstay in the WBCA Team Academic Poll. The Blue Demons broke into the top 10 in the poll in 2011 and have ranked as high as No. 2 in 2011 and 2012. In 2021, DePaul ranked No. 14 in the WBCA Poll, while the program has recorded the highest GPA among BIG EAST women's basketball teams nine of the last 10 years.

Blankson played a big role in DePaul repeating as both the BIG EAST regular season and tournament champions in 2014, 2015 and 2020. She helped mentor 2015 BIG EAST Player of the Year and 19th overall selection in the WNBA Draft Brittany Hrynko. Megan Podkowa was also named the 2015 BIG EAST Tournament MVP while six other players were named to a BIG EAST all-conference roster or to the league’s all-tournament team that year.

During the 2013-14 season, DePaul (29-7) tied the school record for most wins in a season and set program records for games played (36), points (3,006), three-point baskets (314) and assists (705). The Blue Demons advanced to their third NCAA Sweet 16 after claiming their first BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles.

Corresponding with the start of the 2011-12 season, Blankson was named one of the Top 25 High Major Women's College Basketball Assistants by Jason Belzer from CollegeInsider.com.

As a student-athlete, Blankson etched her name in the DePaul record books during her four seasons. She finished her career ranked eighth all-time with 72 three-point field goals and 22nd with 104 games played. She registered 33 double-figure scoring games in her career, including 19 times as a senior.

In her senior season, the 5-9 guard was one of the most versatile players on the roster as she led the team with 28.3 minutes per game and 70 offensive rebounds, while her 85 assists were second on the squad. Blankson ranked in the top 25 in Conference USA in five different categories - assists (13th), three-point field goal percentage (13th), offensive rebounds (14th), three-pointers made (15th) and scoring (22nd).

As much as she excelled on the court, Blankson was just as good in the classroom as a three-time Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member. Her effort in the classroom helped DePaul to finish in the WBCA Academic Top 20 in two of her last three seasons.

The valedictorian at Hillcrest High School was a National Scholastic Coaches Association All-American Scholar Athlete. She was also named a Chicago Tribune Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a member of the National Honor Society. In 2019, Blankson was inducted into the Hillcrest Alumni Hall of Fame.

Basketball runs in the Blankson family as two of Candis' brothers played Division I college basketball. Ryan played at Loyola-Chicago while Odartey played at both Marquette and UNLV.

Blankson is a member of the WBCA and resides in Chicago.