In 2001, Blache molded his young crew into one of the top defensive units in the NFL, producing the top-ranked scoring defense in the League, allowing only 203 points in 16 games (12.7 points per game) which ranks third in Bears history for a 16-game schedule behind only the 1985 and 1986 Bears. In three seasons, his defense has accounted for 11 touchdowns (2 in 1999, 4 in 2000, 5 in 2001).

Prior to joining the Bears, Blache served as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive line coach for five seasons (1994-98) and held the same position for the Green Bay Packers for six years (1988-93) where he served on the staff with Dick Jauron.

Blache's coaching career began in 1968 as a defensive assistant at Notre Dame, where he had suffered a leg injury as a freshman that ended his playing career. Upon graduation in 1971, Blache stayed at Notre Dame for five seasons, one year as a grad assistant and four years as a full-time assistant. Blache then joined the Tulane staff in 1976, where he coached the offensive line (1976-77), outside linebackers (1978-79) and defensive backs (1980). He returned to Notre Dame to coach running backs (1981) and the defensive line and outside linebackers (1982-83). Blache then served one year as defensive coordinator with the USFL's Jacksonville Bulls in 1984, and had one-year experiences at Southern University (1986, defensive coordinator) and Kansas ('87, special teams coordinator) before landing in Green Bay starting in 1988.

Player: Blache was a defensive back at Notre Dame before his injury, where he earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a master's in secondary education.