Career

He is currently the head coach of the Omaha Mavericks, the men"s team of the University of Nebraska Omaha, and also head coach of the United States men"s national junior ice hockey team He led Team United States of America to a gold medal in the IIHF 2010 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Saskatoon, Canada, held in late December 2009 through early January 2010. He led the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux (now Fighting Hawks) men"s hockey team to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championships in 1997 and 2000.

Blais also has two other appearances in the Frozen Four, the semifinal round of the National Collegiate Athletic Association tournament—with North Dakota in 2001 (losing in the championship game) and Omaha in 2015 (losing in the semifinals).

Blais also led the 1990 Roseau Rams to a Minnesota State Hockey Championship. A native of International Falls, Minnesota, Blais played college hockey at the University of Minnesota from 1970 to 1973.

He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 5th round (68th overall) of the 1971 National Hockey League Amateur Draft, and played three seasons of pro hockey with the Chicago Blackhawks’ development team in Dallas. On March 10, 2009 and May 14, 2010, a photograph of Blais was shown on the Late Show with David Letterman for a segment called, "Guys who look like Dave."

1976–1977 – University of Minnesota – Assistant Coach

1977–1980 – Minot High School (Minot, North Dakota) – Head Coach

1980–1989 – University of North Dakota – Assistant Coach

1990–1991 – Roseau High School (Roseau, Minnesota) – Head Coach

1991–1994 – International Falls High School (International Falls, Minnesota) – Head Coach

1994–2004 – University of North Dakota – Head Coach

2006–2007 – Columbus Blue Jackets (National Hockey League) – Player Development

2009–2010 – Team United States of America U20 – Head Coach

2009–present – University of Nebraska Omaha – Head Coach

2012–present – Team United States of America U20 – Head Coach.