​Ryan Blassingame, who coached boys basketball in a pinch in 2024 at Tolleson High School, died suddenly on Sunday, July 12. He was 44.Rico Blassingame, one of Ryan’s two sons, was a four-star 2026 recruit at Tolleson, where he caught 65 passes for 1,001 yards and 14 touchdowns during a 6-4 senior season.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the past five years, Ryan Blassingame was a pillar in the community, very supportive of Tolleson football coach Rich Wellbrock, who resigned at the end of last season.”You wouldn’t think anybody would joke, but when the first phone call came in, I was like, ‘OK, there’s no way,'” Wellbrock said. “I rushed to the hospital, thinking somebody has jumped the gun. There’s no way. He’s 44 years old.”Nope. He had passed.”Wellbrock said he doesn’t know the cause of death, adding the family is reeling over the sudden, unexpected passing.Blassingame was expected to help coach basketball this year at Buckeye Verrado, Wellbrock said.Dec 16, 2024; Anthem, Ariz., U.S.; Tolleson Wolverines head coach Ryan Blassingame talks to his team during a timeout in their game against the Boulder Creek Jaguars at Boulder Creek high school.Ryan Blassingame filled in to lead Tolleson’s boys basketball team in 2024 when the Wolverines needed a replacement just before the season began. Rico, a junior then, hit the game-winning shot for Ryan’s first win that year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Blassingame family supported Wellbrock’s Tolleson football program after they moved from Seattle to the West Valley in July 2022. Rico Blassingame was a star wide receiver for Wellbrock beginning with his freshman year in 2022.Bev Blassingame, Ryan’s wife, ran the football booster club the past two years, Wellbrock said. She also helped coach with her husband during the 2024-25 basketball season at Tolleson.Rico Blassingame signed to play football at the University of Minnesota. The older brother, Tre, plays basketball at William & Mary. The Blassingames also have a daughter, Tooda, who is in middle school.Wellbrock said he spoke to Ryan Blassingame over the phone for 45 minutes a week ago.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”It’s a massive shock,” Wellbrock said. “His ripple effect will last for years and years. He was wanting the best for his kids and other people’s kids, too. He spoke to other fathers with elite recruits, offering advice. Just trying to help his kid, too, getting workouts. Rico worked out with the who’s who of people that were here.”Ryan was so easy to talk to. He could walk in a room and make four friends before you even got a chance to introduce yourself.”A GoFundMe page was started to raise money to offset funeral expenses. There was $24,640 raised as of late afternoon on July 14.Funeral services have not been announced.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRichard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state.