Virginia Tech women's basketball is gearing up for an exciting new chapter, and head coach Megan Duffy is leaving no stone unturned. While much of the offseason buzz has centered around roster moves—from the 2026 recruiting class to transfer portal additions—Duffy has also made a key hire behind the bench. On Monday, the Hokies announced that Ke'Sha Blanton is joining the coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Blanton is no stranger to Duffy's system. The two previously worked together from 2017 to 2019, when Duffy was head coach at Miami (Ohio)—her first head coaching role. That shared history brings a sense of familiarity and trust to Blacksburg, which could pay dividends as the Hokies look to build on their momentum.
A Toledo, Ohio native, Blanton earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Toledo and a master's from Florida State. She kicked off her coaching journey as a graduate assistant at Florida State before landing her first full-time assistant job at Detroit Mercy. After five seasons there, she joined Duffy at Miami (Ohio), where the two forged a strong working relationship.
When Duffy took the Marquette job in 2019, Blanton continued to climb the coaching ladder. She served as associate head coach at Oakland for two seasons and even stepped in as interim head coach for one. From there, she spent two years as an assistant at Eastern Michigan, followed by a head coaching stint at Air Force Prep Academy in 2024. Most recently, she was an assistant coach at Tulane last season.
Duffy couldn't hide her excitement about the hire. "We are thrilled to welcome Ke'Sha Blanton to Blacksburg," she said in a statement. "She is an incredibly hard worker with a passion to impact student-athletes both on and off the court. She will immediately expand our recruiting footprint and elevate our player development."
Blanton steps into the role previously held by Darren Guensch, who left for a similar position at Virginia. Known for her sharp recruiting instincts and player development skills, Blanton brings a wealth of experience that should help the Hokies compete at a high level. For fans and players alike, this hire signals that Virginia Tech is serious about building a winning culture—both on the court and in the community.