LUMBERJACK FOOTBALL
ASSISTANT COACHES
TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS COACH/RECRUITING
CRAIG KNOTH NINTH SEASON • TRUMAN STATE ‘04 • Begins his ninth season as an assistant coach at Northern Arizona University. Knoth works with the tight ends and fullbacks, while coordinating the recruiting efforts for the football program. • Coached R.J. Rickert to College Sports Madness Third Team All-American honors and First Team All-Big Sky honors in 2013. Also developed Nick Butier into a Second Team All-Big Sky fullback. • In 2012, Knoth helped guide Jake Hess to All-Big Sky First Team honors while also being named to the Sports Network third team. He was also a College Sports Journal honorable mention All-American. Hess received the David Couture Award as the Most Inspirational Player on the offensive unit at the team’s banquet. Hess was also a semifinalist for the 2012 William V. Campbell Trophy, an award that recognizes an individual as the best football scholar-athlete in the nation. • Coached starters Hess and Brian Riley for an offensive unit that ranked 14th in the nation and produced the Big Sky leaders in both rushing and passing efficiency in 2011. Riley earned All-Big Sky honorable mention honors and played in the Casino del Sol AllStar game to cap his career, while Hess was an All-Big Sky second-team pick at fullback. • In 2010, Knoth helped develop two-sport standout Nick Larson in his only season on the gridiron. Larson, a former basketball player, produced 14 catches for 117 and three touchdowns, the second-best total on the team, and earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades. Knoth also worked with Vinnie Paciulli, who earned the All-Big Sky second-team selection at fullback in 2010. • Mentored Shaun Fitzpatrick to three All-Big Sky honors, including first-team accolades in 2006. He received honorable mention Sports Network All-America honors, and was named to the 2009 Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team. • In 2008, redshirt freshman Brian Riley earned All-Big Sky honorable mention accolades.
• Prior to NAU, Knoth worked two seasons at Missouri Southern State University where he worked as a graduate assistant. He worked with the tight ends and assisted with the offensive line. • At Missouri Southern State, Knoth was part of a staff that broke or tied more than 30 school offensive records. In 2004, Missouri Southern State set the school season record for passing yards (3,575 yards) and ranked second on the all-time list for total offense (4,983 yards) and scoring (342 points). They became the first team in MIAA conference history to record a 3,000-yard passer, 1,000yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher during the regular season. • Coached Allen Barbre and Matt Stout to numerous All-MIAA accolades during his stint at Missouri Southern. Barbre, an honorable mention All-America selection, was a fourth round selection (119th overall) of the Green Bay Packers in the 2007 NFL Draft. • Was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter at Truman State University for head coach John Ware. He played on the offensive line as a guard starting every game - 33 consecutive. • A native of Cape Girardeau, Mo., Knoth graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in management and marketing, as well as a minor in public administration from Truman State University in 2004. He earned his master’s degree in business administration from Missouri State University in 2006. He was married in June, 2007 to the former Nikki Riess. They have two daughters, Zoie and Claire.
THE KNOTH FILE Born: July 19 College: Truman State University, 2004; Missouri State University, 2006 Playing Experience: Truman State University, 2000-03 Family: Wife, Nikki; Daughters, Zoie and Claire. Recruiting Areas: National Knoth’s Coaching Chronology 2004-05 Missouri Southern State University, Tight Ends and Offensive Line 2006-Pres. Northern Arizona University, Tight Ends
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