DOVER — Baseball coach J.P. Blandin, one of the longest-tenured coaches in Delaware State University athletics’ history, has announced that he’s retiring at the end of the spring.

The St. Andrews School grad and Middletown native, Blandin has been the Hornets’ head baseball coach for 25 seasons.

Blandin has had seven players drafted by the Major Leagues plus tow more who were signed as free agents. He is the winningest coach in DSU’s history with a current record of 533-625-6.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunity to build relationships with the students, faculty, and administration and will always take much pride in saying that I will always be a Hornet,” Blandin was quoted in a press release.

Blandin’s teams have won seven MEAC regular-season. He was twice named the league’s Coach of the Year, had four MEAC Players of the Year, two MEAC Pitchers of the Year, and two MEAC Rookies of the Year.

Blandin reached the NAIA World Series as both a player and an assistant coach with Wilmington University. He also worked as an assistant coach at San Francisco University.

Former DelState head coach Tripp Keister hired Blandin as an assistant.

“I would like to give a special thank you to Coach Tripp Keister for hiring me as his assistant baseball coach and former President Dr. Delauder for supporting me to take over as head coach back in the early 2000s,” said Blandin.

“Also, to Dr. Alecia Shields-Gadson and President Allen for their support and work in finding the Hornet baseball program a new home in Downtown Dover and a new conference home in the NEC.”

Blandin compiled a 259-159 regular-season record in the MEAC before the league became part of the NEC last year.