CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Bethany College Head Football Coach David Blake is set to speak at the 2026 American Football Coaches Association Convention on Monday, January 12 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Coach Blake will be a member of the From Soldier to Coach live interview panel at 4 p.m. along with Harrison Bernstein, the CEO and Founder of Soldiers to Sidelines, a veteran's non-profit organization that helps veterans and active-duty service members influence young athletes across the country. Also featured in the From Soldier to Coach session are Mike Denbrock, the University of Notre Dame's Offensive Coordinator who helped lead the Fighting Irish to a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance in 2024, and Brian Rock, a four-time NCAA Division II national champion as the Offensive Line Coach at Ferris State University. 

The Bison's new head coach spent nine years in the United States Navy where he served as a Flight Engineer and a Legalman. Coach Blake was named the twelfth head football coach in the program's 131-year history on Dec. 23, 2025.

The 2026 AFCA Convention will be held from January 11-13, in Charlotte, North Carolina and will feature over 100 speakers in a wide range of sessions including General Sessions, Buzz Sessions, X & O breakdowns, High School Coaches Academy sessions, and Professional Development certification opportunities.