Obenson Blanc took over the Bison wrestling program on Friday, May 5, 2024 after serving four seasons as an assistant on the coaching staff at NDSU, including two as associate head coach. In his first season at the helm of the Bison, Blanc guided Gaven Sax to the blood round of the NCAA Championships after a runner-up finish in the Big 12 Championships.
In year two leading the Bison, Blanc guided Gavin Drexler to All-American honors, as well as a blood round appearance for Aidan Brenot. Under Blanc, Kyle Burwick recorded a runner-up finish at the Big 12 Championships, with Drexler taking third. Blanc also aided in the development of Tristan Daugherty in 2025, with the first-year transfer recording an upset of the defending national champion. Overall, the Bison have had five national qualifiers in his first two years leading the program.
Blanc worked closely with all facets of the Bison wrestling program as an assistant, coaching two All-Americans in Jared Franek and Michael Caliendo, and all three of NDSU's Big 12 Conference champions – Cam Sykora, Luke Weber and Franek. Blanc also mentored 21 NWCA Scholar All-Americans in his first five seasons with the Bison.
Prior to his time in Fargo, Blanc spent five years as an assistant coach at North Carolina State, where he mentored a pair of NCAA champions, 10 All-Americans, and 10 ACC champions, as well as 18 NWCA Scholar All-Americans. Blanc played a major role in the Wolfpack's rocket ascension in the wrestling landscape during his time in Raleigh. NC State placed fourth at the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships and also captured ACC Championship titles in 2016 and 2019.
Blanc also served as head coach for the Wolfpack Wrestling Club from 2017-19. He led the WWC to a runner-up finish at the 2018 U.S. Open and helped every club member to qualify for the World Team Trials Challenge. During his time over the Wolfpack Wrestling Club, Blanc helped produce five world team members and two senior freestyle national team members.
He started coaching after a successful freestyle wrestling career that included making five consecutive U.S. national teams from 2009 to 2013. At the peak of his career, Blanc was a three-time Pan-American finalist, two-time U.S. Open and U.S. World Team Trials champion in 2010 and 2013, and an alternate for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Blanc wrestled collegiately at both Lock Haven and Oklahoma State. In 2007 at Lock Haven, he earned All-America honors after finishing sixth at the NCAA Championships. He finished his college career at Oklahoma State, qualifying for his fourth consecutive NCAA Championships. He compiled a 118-41 career record with 25 pins.
Blanc earned his bachelor's degree in sports administration from Lock Haven in 2008 and received his master's degree in international business from Oklahoma State in 2010.
Obenson and his wife, Kristi, have two daughters, Elliana and Zoa, and are expecting their third child in August.
