High School

Former NFL star Austin Blythe to take over Williamsburg football program

Austin Blythe, who played seven seasons in the NFL, will return home to lead the Willliamsburg football program

Dana Becker

Austin Blythe, an NFL veteran, will be the new head football coach at Williamsburg High School.
Austin Blythe, an NFL veteran, will be the new head football coach at Williamsburg High School. / Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Austin Blythe, who first made a name for himself on the prep gridiron at Williamsburg, will return to his roots. Blythe, a seven-year NFL veteran, has been named the new head football coach at his alma mater.

“Pending board approval, we are excited to announce Austin Blythe as the next head football coach at Williamsburg,” Williamsburg athletic director Nathan King posted on social media. “A 2011 Williamsburg graduate, Coach Blythe is excited to carry on the strong tradition of Raider football!”

A four-year starter for Iowa, Blythe appeared in 52 games. He was a finalist for the Rimington Award, which goes to the top center in the nation his senior season.

“Excited for this opportunity to lead the Raiders!” Blythe posted.

During that season, the Hawkeyes started 12-0, played in the Big Ten Championship and went to the 2016 Rose Bowl. Blythe was named a second team all-Big Ten.

In the 2016 NFL Draft, the Indianapolis Colts selected Blythe in the seventh round. He played in eight games with one start as a rookie before being claimed the following year by the Los Angeles Rams.

Blythe would have stops with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks before announcing his retirement following the 2022 season, in which he played and started in all 17 games for the Seahawks.

During his high school career, Blythe was a two-time all-state football selection and three-time state wrestling champion for Williamsburg. 

Blythe married Kiley Ritchie, the daughter of his high school football coach, Curt Ritchie, and the couple have one son and two daughters. Blythe and his father-in-law own Legacy Acres Hunting Club together.

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Dana Becker
DANA BECKER

Dana Becker has been a sports writer in Iowa since 2000, writing for The Fort Dodge Messenger, Mason City Globe-Gazette, Cedar Rapids Gazette and others. Dana resides in northcentral Iowa and started as a writer with SB Live Sports in 2022 focused on the state of Iowa. Along with providing coverage of football and wrestling, Dana also spotlights cross country, swimming, basketball, track and field, soccer, tennis, golf, baseball and softball. He began writing for High School on SI in 2023.

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