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Tom Knotts Named To Duke Football Coaching Staff
2/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 25, 2004
DURHAM, N.C. - Tom Knotts, a former Duke letterman who guided Charlotte's Independence High School to four straight state championships from 2000-03, has joined the football staff at his alma mater, announced on Wednesday by Blue Devil head coach Ted Roof.
The hiring of Knotts completes the Blue Devil coaching staff for Roof, who also named the assistants' responsibilities: David Kelly -- Associate Head Coach & Wide Receivers; Glenn Spencer -- Assistant Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator & Defensive Backs; Marty Galbraith -- Offensive Coordinator & Tight Ends; Jerry Azzinaro -- Co-Defensive Coordinator; Scott Brown -- Co-Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line; Fred Chatham -- Running Backs & Special Teams Coordinator; Knotts -- Quarterbacks; Brad Sherrod -- Linebackers; Don Yanowsky -- Offensive Line.
Knotts got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Duke in 1980. He then served as an assistant coach at Independence for two years (1981-82) before taking the head coaching position at Harding High School, where he spent six seasons (1983-88) and compiled a ledger of 52-22. Knotts followed with an 11-year tenure (1989-99) as the head coach at West Charlotte High School, posting a record of 113-32 including the 1995 4A state championship. His last four seasons were spent at Independence, directing the Patriots to a record of 63-1 and four consecutive 4A state titles. He departs Independence having won a state-record 62 games in a row -- a current streak that ranks second nationally behind the 150 straight wins complied by De La Salle High School in Concord, Calif.
Overall, Knotts compiled an coaching record of 228-55 (.806) in 21 seasons at Harding, West Charlotte and Independence high schools.
In 2003, Independence rolled to a 16-0 ledger that included a 54-7 win over New Bern in the state championship game. With the title, Independence became the first school to capture four straight 4A crowns since the state established classifications in 1959. For his efforts, Knotts was named the National Coach of the Year by both Riddell Footwear and Student Sports/EA Sports Magazine as Independence finished the year ranked fourth in the country by USA Today. All four of Knotts' Independence teams finished their respective seasons ranked among the nation's top 20 according to USA Today (2000 -- 20th; 2001 -- 4th; 2002 -- 3rd).
While at Independence, Knotts coached quarterback Chris Leak, who recently completed his first season at Florida. Leak established state career records for pass completions (1,013), pass attempts (1,745), passing yards (15,593), touchdown passes (185), total offense (16,590) and touchdown responsibility (216). His 185 touchdown passes are a national high school record while his 15,593 passing yards rank second nationally. The national high school player of the year as a senior at Independence, Leak earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors from the Associated Press this past fall.
Knotts earned conference coach of the year accolades 11 times, and directed his teams to 18 league titles. His squads played in the North Carolina state championship game in eight of his last 12 years.
A native of Albemarle, N.C., Knotts lettered three seasons (1975-77) under Mike McGee as a defensive back at Duke before graduating in 1978 with a degree in social science. He recorded 62 tackles during his senior season and finished with four career interceptions. His father, Don (1949-50), and three uncles -- Doug (1953-55), Ernie (1943-46) and Jim (1947-49) -- all lettered in football at Duke.
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