Phil Blessman
Phil Blessman is the head coach at John-F.-Kennedy-School, Berlin, Germany. He has been coaching high school quizbowl since 2000, serving as the head coach at the Latin School of Chicago (2000-2001), Conserve School (2002-2004), Culver Academies (2004-2014), and JFKS (2014-present). He has led each of his teams to strong statewide finishes, including a 5th-place Illinois Class A finish with Latin in 2001, two Wisconsin state championships at Conserve School in 2003 and 2004, NAQT Indiana State Championships with Culver in 2005, 2009, and 2010, 2nd Place NAQT State finishes with Culver in 2006, 2007, and 2008, an Indiana NAC State Championship in 2009, and 2011 and 2012 Rotary Indiana Class AAA State Championships. On the US-national stage, his teams have competed in nine NAQT HSNCT championships, two History Bowl National Championships, one PACE NSC, and one Questions Unlimited competition calling itself a National Championship. His teams have amassed an overall record at US National Championships of 71-63 (0.529) with Culver's three second-round playoff appearances at HSNCT (2009, 2010, 2012), a regional semifinal finish at NAC by Latin in 2001, and an Elite Eight appearance by Culver at the 2010 NHBB being his teams' top US finishes. JFKS won the inaugural European Quizbowl Championship in 2016.
Career coaching record
| Year | School | Games | Wins | Losses | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–2001 | Latin School of Chicago (IL) | 92 | 71 | 21 | .772 |
| 2002–2003 | Conserve School (WI) | 64 | 51 | 13 | .797 |
| 2003–2004 | Conserve School (WI) | 89 | 71 | 18 | .798 |
| 2004–2005 | Culver (IN) | 70 | 41 | 29 | .586 |
| 2005–2006 | Culver (IN) | 62 | 48 | 14 | .774 |
| 2006–2007 | Culver (IN) | 101 | 70 | 31 | .693 |
| 2007–2008 | Culver (IN) | 115 | 73 | 42 | .635 |
| 2008–2009 | Culver (IN) | 106 | 79 | 27 | .745 |
| 2009–2010 | Culver (IN) | 154 | 107 | 47 | .695 |
| 2010–2011 | Culver (IN) | 134 | 88 | 46 | .657 |
| 2011–2012 | Culver (IN) | 121 | 87 | 34 | .719 |
| 2012–2013 | Culver (IN) | 106 | 76 | 30 | .769 |
| 2013–2014 | Culver (IN) | 117 | 66 | 51 | .564 |
| 2014-2015 | JFKS (Germany) | 12 | 10 | 2 | .833 |
| 2015-2016 | JFKS (Germany) | 25 | 21 | 4 | .840 |
| 2016-2017 | JFKS (Germany) | 18 | 16 | 2 | .889 |
| 2017-2018 | JFKS (Germany) | 14 | 11 | 3 | .786 |
| 2018-2019 | JFKS (Germany) | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2019-2020 | JFKS (Germany) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2020-2021 | JFKS (Germany) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1.000 |
| 2021-2022 | JFKS (Germany) | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0.571 |
| Career Totals | 1419 | 1002 | 417 | .706 |