Triton College names A.J. Blahut Athletic Director

A.J. Blahut is both excited and ready for the challenges ahead in his new role within the Triton College Athletic Department.

Blahut was officially named the 12^th Athletic Director in school history during the Triton Board of Trustees meeting held on September 23.

"Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, coach and athletic director, so this opportunity is incredibly meaningful to me." said Blahut, who will take over the day-to-day operations of the department from retiring Associate Vice President of Athletics, Garrick Abezetian. Blahut' s role the last four years at Triton as Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Special Events has unofficially been prepping him for his latest chapter.

Blahut is no transplant from across the country. He has deep roots as an athlete, coach and teacher in the southwest suburbs in New Lenox and Joliet. His family, including wife Aundrea and parents Sandra and Mike Blahut, have a played a key role during his athletic and professional journey.

"I particularly want to thank my parents and my wife for their support," he said. "Additionally, I want to thank President Mary-Rita Moore, Board Chairman Mark Stephens, the Triton College Board of the Trustees and Vice President of Business Services Sean Sullivan for this opportunity."

Blahut believes he will bring a background from beyond sports to continue the effort to improve Triton athletic facilities and further build up improving sports programs.

"I come from three different worlds – wrestler, teacher/coach and union ironworker," said Blahut. That seems like good training for the administrative work, cheerleading and even teaching that will go into his new job.

In his previous role coordinating rentals at the Jorndt Athletic Complex along with ensuring Triton athletic home events were running smoothly, Blahut took "on more tasks to take stuff off (Abezetian's) plate," he said. Now Abezetian will return the favor for the near future as a consultant to help Blahut as he gets both feet on the ground.

Athletically, Blahut wrestled at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox before becoming at NJCAA All-American at 174 pounds and team captain for the now-defunct downstate Lincoln College. He also was a two-time academic All-American. He went on to wrestle at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Bloomsburg University, from where he graduated. Blahut has a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Bloomsburg.

Blahut's top role model was longtime Lincoln College Athletic Director and Wrestling Head Coach Dave Klemm. "He taught me a lot about being a student-athlete," he said. "He gave me a new perspective."

As athletic director, Blahut has much recent experience getting inside the pressures of coaching. He spent four years as Head Wrestling Coach at Joliet Junior College, where he produced a pair of NJCAA All-Americans. Then he became Assistant Wrestling Coach at Triton, doubling up with his day-job, to help produce five NJCAA All-Americans and first-place finishes at the Region 4 and Great Lakes District Tournaments in 2023 and 2024.

Blahut inherits a Triton athletic program led by the national success of the men's basketball team with three NJCAA Division I National Tournament appearances since moving up a level after winning the Division II title in 2018. Last season, Triton produced 13 NJCAA All-American's highlighted by track star Ava Connerty winning an individual national title in the 100-meter hurdles. In addition, he'll be in charge of overseeing the newest sport at Triton, women's flag football beginning in the spring of 2026.

"The next step is to make all of our sports at Triton competitive," he said. Also high on Blahut' s list are the continual facilities upgrades, including turf replacement. He was very much involved in the recent improvements, including the installation of new bleachers in the gymnasium and new athletic training room. 

Now Blahut will get the opportunity to weave all the levels of his experiences to position Triton athletics for years to come and maintain the winning tradition that has been established.
 
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)