Blanton is one of the only players in the history of volleyball to win a championship at every level of the game (collegiate, Olympic, and professional).
As a high school senior in 1990, Blanton was named the Orange County Player of the Year, Most Valuable Player of the Pacific Coast League and earned All-American honors at the Junior Olympics. Blanton was also an All-State Basketball player who led Laguna Beach to the CIF Finals in 1990.
Blanton was known for his fast serve, holding the AVP record for 11 aces in a single game to 15 in Vail, Colorado, in 1997.
After winning gold at the 2000 Olympics, Blanton and Fonoimoana broke their partnership because of rule changes that went into effect in 2001. (Rally or point per play scoring as opposed to having to serve to score a point; court size changed from 30x30 feet per side to 8x8 meters). Height became a deciding factor because the new rules provided an advantage for a full-time tall blocker at the net. They went separate ways in search of big blockers. In the 2004 Olympics, Blanton and Nygaard were seeded eighth, but failed to advance out of pool play.
Currently, Blanton is a sports broadcasting analyst covering the FIVB, AVP, NVL (National Volleyball League), and the Jose Cuervo Pro Beach Series, as well as working as a sideline reporter for the Los Angeles Clippers. His career in sports broadcasting has involved working with ABC, NBC, ESPN, Fox Sports Net, and Universal Sports Network. He covers many sports including NBA, beach volleyball, MLB, college basketball, and college football. Blanton also does motivational speaking events each year to inspire and be a role-model.
Blanton was the runner-up to Andrew Firestone on the third season of the ABC television network reality show The Bachelor.
Awards and honors
1992 NCAA National Champion (Pepperdine University)
1994 NCAA All-American
1997 Special Achievement
2000 Olympic Gold Medalist (beach volleyball with partner Eric Fonoimoana)
2004 Olympian (beach volleyball with partner Jeff Nygaard)
2003 AVP Best Offensive Player
2003 Team of the Year
2015 AVCA National Champion (women's beach volleyball, USC) Assistant Coach
2016 NCAA National Champion (women's beach volleyball, USC) Assistant Coach
2017 NCAA National Champion (women's beach volleyball, USC) Assistant Coach
2021 NCAA National Champion (women's beach volleyball, USC) Head Coach
2022 NCAA National Champion (women's beach volleyball, USC) Head Coach
2023 NCAA National Champion (women’s beach volleyball, USC) Head Coach
2024 NCAA National Champion (women’s beach volleyball, USC) Head Coach