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Iowa State University Athletics
Cedar Rapids Kennedy's Knock Joins Iowa State Football Staff
05.30.2000 | Football
AMES, Iowa -- Don Knock, a member of the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame who has coached Cedar Rapids Kennedy's football team to six state playoff berths in the past 10 seasons and led Grundy Center to the 1984 Iowa Class 2-A state high school title, has joined the Iowa State football coaching staff as a graduate assistant. Knock, who owns a career prep coaching record of 128-85, begins his duties Thursday.
"It is very rare that you have someone on your staff, in any position, with the in-state coaching experience and success that Don Knock has had," Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney said. "Don will make a big difference on our team. This worked out perfectly."
The 45-year-old Knock was captain of the 1975 Central College football team and earned a bachelor's degree there in 1976. The Parkersburg native signed a free agent contract with the Oakland Raiders afer graduation but joined the Central College coaching staff under Ron Schipper that fall.
Knock began his coaching career at Rockwell-Swaledale in 1977, where he taught and was head football coach. After three years at Rockwell-Swaledale, Knock spent one academic year at South Dakota, where he was graduate assistant offensive backfield coach while earning a master's degree.
Knock moved to Grundy Center in 1981, where his teams compiled a 48-11 record and twice qualified for the state playoffs under Iowa's old eight-team bracket formula. He moved on to Cedar Rapids Kennedy in 1987, where his teams have been 66-61.
A past-president of the Iowa Football Coaches Association, he is currently chair of the organization's academic all-state football committee. He has served on the IFCA's board of directors for the past 16 years.
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