The 2019 season marked the 19th season for Ernie Blount at LIU. Blount has coached the defensive backs and kickers for the last sixteen years.
In 2017 Coach Blount was instrumental in developing a secondary that included All NE10 first team defensive player senior Jared Chester, second-team All NE10 senior Richard Wright and NE10 All-Rookie team member freshman Nazir Streater.
In 2016 Blount helped develop a secondary unit ranked seventh in the nation with 22 interceptions. Junior Jared Chester was named NE-10 MVP and Defensive Player of the Year with 78 tackles and 7 interceptions. Chester also garnered ECAC Defensive Player of the Year, D2CCA All-Super Region team and second team All-America accolades. Senior Jahleel Oswald, junior Richard Wright and freshman Joshua Flowers were named second team All NE-10 members. The season also had kicker Joey Tolgyesi named as a kicker to the second team All NE-10 team.
In 2009, the LIU Post secondary unit ranked first in the PSAC in pass defense efficiency.
During the 2005 campaign, Blount’s pass defense ranked as one of the best in all of Division ll. During the 2003 campaign, the Blount-led Pioneers ranked first nationally in passing defense.
Blount’s flexibility as a mentor saw him begin his LIU Post coaching career with three seasons as the wide receiver’s coach. Two of his former players, Eddie Hardaway and Jeremiah Pope, were invitees to NFL training camps. Pope went on to have a stellar career in the Arena League Football. After the 2007 season, graduate Jamel Ramsay also joined the professional ranks in the AFL.
Blount and his wife, Chavonne, reside in Freeport, and have four children: Ernie, Eric, Elliott and Courtney. He attended Brooklyn College.
