University of Manitoba Athletics

A familiar and respected figure in the football community, Blair Atkinson was named the first full-time Offensive Coordinator in Bisons program history ahead of the 2025 season.

Atkinson's connection to the Bisons extends more than two decades, and he is renowned in his ability to develop next-level talent. He was Manitoba's receivers coach last season, as well as for nine years from 2007-2016. In his first year as positional coach, the Bisons won the Vanier Cup, and he was also on the team's 2014 staff when they won the Hardy Cup.

Atkinson has been instrumental in the development of countless receivers who've gone on to play at the next level, including Xavier Johnson (2012 CFL Free Agent, Montreal), Quincy Hurst (2012 CFL fourth round pick, Toronto), Anthony Coombs (2014 first round pick, Toronto), Andrew Smith (2014 fourth round pick, Montreal), Nick Demski (2015 first round pick, Saskatchewan), Alex Vitt (2016 seventh round pick, Winnipeg), Schrot (2018 Free Agent, Winnipeg), Ross (2019 fifth round pick, Edmonton), Macho Bockru (2020 Free Agent, Winnipeg) and AK Gassama (2024 sixth round pick, Winnipeg).

A Bisons alum from 2003-05 (his 12 regular season receiving touchdowns are fifth in school history), Atkinson has prior experience as offensive coordinator, having been OC for Manitoba in 2017-18. Three players (Zack Williams, OL, Ross, Schrot, REC) on that year's roster progressed to the CFL level, while quarterback Des Catellier, now a CFL coach, later went on to break the school record for career passing yards (7,616).

Atkinson's reputation as an elite developer of talent includes his role as co-founder (alongside 2007 Vanier Cup champ Brad Black) and coach of Recruit Ready, which has been Canada's premier speed and skill development program for football players for well over a decade.

Recruit Ready focuses on year-round football-specific training, which includes their seven-on-seven traveling teams. Recruit Ready helped train and develop over 40 members of the 2024 Bisons roster, and their pipeline includes alum that are competing at the NFL, CFL, NCAA Division 1 and U SPORTS levels. 

A British Columbia native, Atkinson grew up playing community football for Langley, and spent his high school years with the Aldergrove Totems. In 1999-2000 he played in the CJFL for the Abbotsford Airforce and from 2001-2002 he competed for the CJFL's South Fraser (now Langley) Rams. Atkinson then moved on to Manitoba, where his 1,143 career regular season receiving yards are 11th in school history. 

In 2006 he was signed as a Free Agent by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and he also practiced with the BC Lions in 2002 as a junior player. In 2015, Atkinson served as a guest coach for the Blue Bombers, and he was the Offensive Coordinator and General Manager for the CJFL's Valley Huskers from 2019-2022.