In September of 2025, A.J. Blahut was named the 12th Director of Athletics in Triton College history. Blahut previously served for four years as Triton’s Coordinator of Athletic Facilities and Special Events, where he played an active role in major facility improvements, including the renovation of the athletic training room and the installation of new gymnasium bleachers.

Blahut spent three years as an assistant wrestling coach, helping guide the program to one of its most successful stretches in recent history. During his tenure, the wrestling team won its first District Championship since 1998, producing twenty-nine NJCAA national qualifiers, five All-Americans, eight Academic All-Americans, and eleven Great Lakes District Champions. The team placed 2nd (2022), 1st (2023), and 1st (2024) at the District Tournament and earned national finishes of 20th (2022), 13th (2023), and 17th (2024).

Before joining Triton, Blahut served as the Head Wrestling Coach at Joliet Junior College for four years, where he coached four North Central District champions, twenty-two NJCAA national qualifiers, and two All-Americans. His teams achieved two top-three finishes at the North Central District Championship and a top-25 national tournament finish. Off the mat, Blahut emphasized academics, guiding nineteen athletes to Academic All-Conference honors and two NJCAA Academic All-Americans.

As an athlete, Blahut wrestled for Lincoln-Way Central High School earning numerous accolades before competing collegiately at Lincoln College, the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and Bloomsburg University. At Lincoln, Blahut was an NJCAA qualifier at 184 lbs. and an NJCAA All-American, placing fifth, at 174 lbs. He also captained the Lincoln College team that finished in the top 10 nationally both years, earning two Academic All-American honors.

Blahut holds an Associate of Arts degree from Lincoln College, bachelor’s degrees in History and Education from Bloomsburg University, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Bloomsburg. Prior to his career in collegiate athletics, he spent nine years teaching Physical Education, Western Civilization, and U.S. History at the high school level.

A Joliet native who grew up in New Lenox, Blahut now resides in Wood Dale with his wife and their two cats.