In this last week of the 2019, the Washington Daily News will run a recap of the Top 10 stories of the year about the ideas, issues and events that have created a lot of conversation or most affected the community.  The No. 9 top story of 2019 is the resignation by long-time Pam Pack coach Jon Blank.

Washington head football coach and Athletic Director Jon Blank resigned Dec.13 from the school to pursue other endeavors.

“It’s a personal thing,” Blank said. “I needed to make some changes and the best way to do that is for me to move forward. I am looking at different options, but nothing is for sure.”

Blank spent 18 years as a Pam Pack football coach, starting in 2002 as a junior varsity offensive line and special teams coach before becoming defensive coordinator in 2005. His defense led the Pam Pack to a state championship game in 2014 under then-head coach Sport Sawyer. Blank was promoted to head coach in 2017, as well as to the role of athletic director. He held a 17-19 record as a head coach and finished 9-4 in 2019 with a trip to the second-round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association playoffs. Six different Washington sports programs won the 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference in the past calendar year.

Blank said at the time of his resignation that he wanted the players to know his resignation doesn’t have anything to do with them.

“They’re a great group of kids that are going to continue to be a good football team,” he said. “I wish them all the absolute best.”

Blank led the Pam Pack to a share of the 2-A ECC conference title for the first time since realignment, but fell short of the outright title with a 20-14 loss to West Craven late in the season.

Offensive coordinator Perry Owens was named the interim head football coach at Washington High School and will be a candidate to maintain the position as administrators open the search for a new head coach. Pam Pack coach Lane Raper, has taken over as interim athletic director until the end of the school year.

Beaufort County Schools Superintendent Matthew Cheeseman said he wished Blank the best in the future and appreciated his 18 years of service to Washington High School.