Blair O’Hara is one of Australia’s leading experts in US college recruiting processes and strategies as well as a successful talent manager for amateur athletes in the college pathway. For many years, Blair has maintained a near perfect success record at placing clients with scholarships, including placements at Harvard University, Syracuse University, Washington State University, to name a few. In this role, Blair has pioneered many efforts to expand opportunities for young Australians wishing to pursue elite level sport outside of the traditional pathways in Australia.
In his own right, Blair played elite level NCAA Division 1 tennis for San Diego State University and graduated in 2001 with distinction and honours in Film, TV, and Media Production. In that same year, won best short film at Brussels International Film Festival. Following this, Blair remained involved in tennis and spent 3 very successful years as Head Tennis Professional at an exclusive tennis and swim club in Stamford, Connecticut, USA.
Blair has spent 10 years in the USA and considerable time in Europe gaining an understanding of sports from a variety of perspectives. He has developed an acute eye for talent across a range of sports and a thorough understanding of development requirements for elite athletes as well as for all levels of sport participation.
Blair is a very motivated and positive individual with a strong desire to contribute to improving Australia’s world class stature in sport.
Some of Blair’s USA college achievements:
1995-1997: Weber State University – NCAA Division 1 Men’s Tennis Team.
Fall 1996: Achieved a high ranking of #14 in singles - Western Region, NCAA Division 1.
1996-1997: Weber State University Athletic Honors for Outstanding Achievement in Academics and Distinctive Performance in Athletics.
Spring 1997: Big Sky Conference First Tennis All-Conference Team Selection.
1998-2000: San Diego State University – NCAA Division 1 Men’s Tennis Team.
Fall 1998: SDSU Scholar-Athlete Award.
1998-1999: Western Athletic Conference Academic All-Conference Award.
Fall 2000: SDSU Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars Award – Delta Chapter.
Spring 2000: SDSU achieved all time high team ranking of 39th in NCAA Division 1.
Spring 2000: SDSU team qualified for NCAA National Tournament (Final 16) in Athens, Georgia.
Spring 2000: SDSU Scholar-Athlete Award.
Spring 2000: Mountain West Conference Academic All-Conference Award.
May 2001: Graduated Bachelor of Science Degree with Distinction; majoring in Television, Film, and New Media Production.
Nov 2001: Won Best International Short Film at Brussels International Film Festival, Belgium. (SDSU Senior Project).