A.J. Blahut enters his third year at Joliet Junior College as the head wrestling coach. In that time, he has produced three North Central District champions, ten NJCAA national qualifiers, and one All-American. As a team, JJC has a runner-up finish at the North Central District Championship and a top 25 finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Academically, Blahut has guided 11 individuals to Academic All-Conference honors and one NJCAA Academic All-American.

Previous to JJC, A.J. was the head wrestling coach at Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School. Blahut was also an assistant coach at BBCHS for several seasons. Previous to that, he was the head coach at Manuel Academy in Peoria. He began his coaching career at Lincoln-Way North High School in 2010. Blahut has coached many state placers, state qualifiers and sectional qualifiers/champions.

Blahut wrestled for Lincoln-Way Central High School where he was a four-year varsity starter earning numerous accolades. He went on to wrestle collegiately for Lincoln College, University of Nebraska at Kearny 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 served as a team captain of the Lincoln College team that finished in the top 10 at the NJCAA National Tournament both years. He was also a two-time Academic All-American.

Blahut earned an Associate of Arts degree from Lincoln College before completing bachelor's degrees in History and Education from Bloomsburg University. He also holds a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Bloomsburg. Blahut has taught Physical Education, Western Civilization and United States History for the past nine years.

Blahut was born in Joliet and grew up in New Lenox. He currently resides in Bourbonnais with his fiancé, Aundrea, and their two cats, Hooper and Ishmael.