2021 Knox College Prairie Fire Football

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WELCOME TO KNOX COLLEGE KnoxCollegeFB KnoxCollegeFootball KnoxCollegeFootball

A MESSAGE FROM THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR In my time as Director of Athletics, I have witnessed tremendous growth in our department and staff. We have enhanced facilities and taken other steps to provide student-athletes with the best experience possible.

Excitement is in the air as we welcome new coaches and studentathletes to our family this year and as our returning students and staff set goals reflective of their new aspirations. Knox College is a special place, and our department is part of what makes the College unique.

Daniella Irle

2021 KNOX COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE Date

Opponent

Location

Time

Aug 28

Eureka College (Scrimmage) Eureka, IL

2:00 pm

Sep 4

Westminster College

Fulton, MO

2:00 pm

Sep 11

Ripon College*

HOME

1:00 pm

Sep 18

Lake Forest College*

HOME

2:00 pm

Oct 2

University of Chicago

Chicago, IL

2:00 pm

Oct 9

Beloit College*

HOME

1:00 pm

Oct 16

Grinnell College*

Grinnell, IA

1:00 pm

Oct 23

Illinois College*

Jacksonville, IL

1:00 pm

Oct 30

Lawrence University

HOME

1:00 pm

Nov 6

Cornell College*

HOME

1:00 pm

Nov 13

Monmouth College* Bronze Turkey Game

Monmouth, IL

1:00 pm

Homecoming

* Midwest Conference Games

SEE THE LATEST NEWS, SCHEDULES

prairiefire

SEASON PREVIEW Aaron Willits ’08 begins his first season as Head Football Coach at Knox College in 2021. Taking over the program in February, the Prairie Fire did not play any football games in the 2020-21 academic year. The team did however get three weeks of quality full padded practice this past April and May to help springboard the returners this fall. The team has been on campus practicing since August 11, 2021.

Even without the 2020 football season, Knox College will return a good number of impact senior players that were a part of the 2019 season including core players on the offense side of the ball and in the middle of the defense. Outside of the senior class, Knox College football will look to grow up fast with over 35 first-year and sophomore players.

The Prairie Fire offense will look to the quarterback position to lead a strong 2021 campaign. Fifth-year senior Grant Graham and junior Kaile Williams will look to command the new triple-option offense. Graham averaged 157.1 passing yards per game in 2019, the third best in the Midwest Conference. He also passed for 14 touchdowns, also third in the league. Returning skill players senior Derrick Jackson (slot), senior Trevor Geggie (slot), senior Ethan Rolph-Jones (wide receiver) alongside senior offensive linemen Charlie Gibbons and Tristin O’Connor will be crucial in setting the tone having previously played in a college game.

“We will spread the ball sideline-to-sideline and fill all the gaps with our run game,” said Willits. We do have lots of option plays and direct handoffs but also some individual players who we can rely on to push the ball down the field vertically. We will focus our offense around finding our playmakers in a variety of ways and getting them the ball when the ball needs to go to them.”

Senior linebacker Ean Rau returns along with linebacker Daniel Rodriguez to anchor the middle of the defense. Rau was second on the team in tackles in 2019 with 51 total tackles, 4.5 TFL and 2 sacks. Daniel Rodriguez is coming off a 2019 campaign where he finished with 32 total tackles along with 7 TFL. Defensive standouts Kendall Ballman (safety), Caleb Spinks (defensive end), and Larry Harris (corner) look to build on their experience on the field in 2019 and grow into larger roles.

The Prairie Fire are coming off a 2019 campaign where they finished 3-6.

S, ROSTERS, AND STATISTICS AT

e.knox.edu

Knox College Football 2021 1

FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF AARON WILLITS ’08 HEAD COACH B.A., Knox College

@CoachWillits Aaron Willits, a 2008 Knox graduate, makes his return to Knox after a successful run as the Offensive Coordinator at Concordia College (Minnesota). In his nine years with the Cobbers, the team went 62-28 and 48-24 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Willits coached 21 All-Conference performers, four all-region performers and an All-American. He also coached two MIAC Most Valuable Players and the Buddy Bell Minnesota College Impact Player of the Year. Former Cobber Brandon Zylstra, a 2015 All-MIAC performer, is now a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers.

On top of his Offensive Coordinator role, Willits also served as Recruiting Coordinator, Strength and Conditioning Coach, and Equipment Manager for the Cobbers. Willits orchestrated over 150 campus visits in 2018, and the team averaged over 50 studentathlete commitments per year during his tenure. Willits plans to bring that same level of commitment to recruiting and retention to Knox.

Willits began his coaching career at Knox following graduation. He served as Recruiting Coordinator for two years and coached the offensive line his first year and running backs in his second year.

As a Prairie Fire player, Willits earned All-Midwest Conference honors in his senior year when he rushed for 648 yards in only eight games. He was voted the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2007. He rushed for 1,626 yards for his college career, scored 11 touchdowns, and carried the ball 377 times.

Willits earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in social science and secondary education from Knox College in 2008.

Aaron and his wife Marissa have two kids, son Cullen and daughter Hattie.

2 Knox College Football 2021

CORY BONSTEAD ’04 OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR, OFFENSIVE LINE

@CoachBonstead

B.A., Knox College A four-year starter on the offensive line in his playing career at Knox, Cory Bonstead serves as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator.

Graduating from Knox in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in education, he was a three-time AllMidwest Conference pick and was elected a team captain in his senior year.

Bonstead has spent 15 of his 17 years coaching football at Knox and has served as offensive line coach, assistant defensive backs coach and assistant offensive line/tight ends coach for the Prairie Fire.

The offensive line has seen marked improvement during Bonstead’s tenure. In 2012, his offensive line paved the way for an offense that broke or tied 12 school records. Over the past eight seasons, Bonstead has had eight players selected as All-MWC performers, and the team’s points per game and average rushing yards per game have both increased.

During 2008 and 2009 seasons, Bonstead served as the varsity offensive line coach at Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Florida.

Cory and his wife Katie, also a 2004 Knox College graduate, are the parents of twins, Peter and Corinne. They reside in Alexis.

ZACH SCHULTZ DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR, LINEBACKERS B.A., Illinois College @Coach_SchultzDC M.S., Illinois State University Zach Schultz joined the Prairie Fire football staff as Defensive Coordinator in spring of 2021.

Schultz spent the previous four years on the football staff at Sewanee: The University of the South. He served as the Tigers defensive backs coach and coached eight all-conference selections. He also served as an Academic Coordinator and coached the throwing events for the Sewanee track & field programs.

Before Sewanee, Schultz spent a year as a graduate assistant coach at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He coached the defensive line, while also serving as video coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator.

Prior to that, Schultz served as a football assistant at Illinois Wesleyan University, working with the defensive line.

A 2014 graduate of Illinois College with a degree in exercise science, Schultz played four seasons as a defensive lineman for the Blueboys.

Schultz also spent a season as an assistant offensive and defensive line coach at Heyworth (Ill.) High School and has worked as a strength coach at Bloomington's Four Seasons Health Club.

Schultz earned his master's degree in sports psychology from Illinois State University in 2016.

Knox College Football 2021 3

FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF ADAM RIES SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR, DEFENSIVE LINE COACH B.A., University of Wisconsin-River Falls @AdamRies5 M.S., Illinois State University Adam Ries joined the Prairie Fire coaching staff in the spring of 2017. He spent two seasons coaching the Quarterbacks and also previously coached the Wide Receivers.

Under the direction of Ries, QB Grant Graham finished third in the conference in 2019 in passing yards and touchdowns. Ries also coached All-Midwest Conference performer Hunter Lee in 2018.

Prior to joining the Prairie Fire coaching staff in the spring of 2017, Ries spent two years as a Graduate Assistant at Illinois Wesleyan University. Ries coached the Wide Receivers including one first team All-CCIW Conference selection in 2015.

Ries earned his Master’s in Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity from Illinois State University.

Prior to working at Illinois Wesleyan, Ries spent five seasons coaching at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He graduated from River Falls in 2010 with a Bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism. He spent his senior season as a Student Assistant coaching Tight Ends and remained on staff to coach the Wide Receivers for four more seasons. During his time he coach 3 All-WIAC selections at Wide Receiver.

Ries is a native of Hastings, Minnesota.

RYSEAN GRANT ASSISTANT COACH, WIDE RECEIVERS B.S., Chestnut Hill College

@BagleyRysean Rysean Grant enters his first season as the Wide Receiver Coach for the Knox College football team.

He played was a running back and full back at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for four years.

He also helped coach on the offensive side of the ball.

Grant graduated from Chestnut Hill College in 2021, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

He is a native of Burtonsville, Maryland.

4 Knox College Football 2021

BILL ALLISON ’72 ASSISTANT COACH, RUNNING BACKS B.A., Knox College M.S., Western Illinois University

@wallison12 Bill Allison brings more than four decades of football experience to the Prairie Fire sideline.

He joined the Knox coaching staff in 1996 after 21 years in the Galesburg High School football program, including four years as head coach of the Silver Streaks. A versatile member of the Knox staff, Allison has coached both defense and offense, spending the majority of his time as the running backs coach for the Prairie Fire. He has coached seven AllConference running backs, including the school's two all-time leading rushers.

Allison’s family has long been associated with Knox College. His parents attended the College at the same time and his father graduated in 1942. Bill graduated in 1972 and taught English in Galesburg District 205 schools for 34 years. His wife Joyce, also a 1972 Knox graduate, taught special education. Daughter Libby is a graduate of Western Illinois University and works as a Media Relations Coordinator for OSF Healthcare.

Daughter Andie played women’s basketball for four years before graduating from Knox in 2008. She is now a teacher in nearby Knoxville.

Son Reed, a 2000 Knox graduate, played four years of football and is a school administrator in Geneva, Illinois.

GARRETT RAU ’20 ASSISTANT COACH, DEFENSIVE BACKS

@rau_garrett

B.S., Knox College Garrett Rau was hired as the defensive backs coach in 2021 after a successful playing career for the Prairie Fire football team.

Rau spent 2020 as an assistant coach at Galesburg High School where he also teaches chemistry for the Galesburg School District. While coaching there, he worked with the defensive backs, wide receivers, and served as the special teams coordinator.

In his playing career with the Prairie Fire, Rau was a three-year starter in the defensive backfield and handled the punting duties for the team. A captain his senior year, he was selected as an All-Midwest Conference performer as a defensive back in 2018 and 2019. He also received All-Midwest Conference honors as a punter in 2017, 2018, and 2019. The 2020 graduate double majored in Chemistry and Secondary Education.

Rau is a native of Abbotsford, Wisconsin.

Knox College Football 2021 5

ATHLETIC SUPPORT STAFF ANDY GIBBONS

@strength_fire

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH B.A., Culver-Stockton College M.S., Western Illinois University Since coming to Knox in 1991, Andy Gibbons has served in a variety of roles in the Athletic Department including 14 years as head football coach, many years as defensive coordinator, and director of the E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center. In January 2018, Gibbons transitioned to a new role as head strength and conditioning coach while continuing his duties in the Fitness Center.

In a Knox coaching career that spans more than two decades, Gibbons has coached 123 All-Midwest Conference selections, nine All-American picks, and 12 players who have been inducted into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame.

The football program also set 46 school records during his tenure. Gibbons led Knox in 1998 to a fourth place finish in the Midwest Conference and had the league’s top defensive unit that was also nationally ranked. Gibbons is the second all-time winningest Knox football coach.

Active in the local sports community, Gibbons has served on the board of the Galesburg Junior Football League. In addition, he is the director of the Altona Youth Baseball/Softball Association and has participated in numerous community service projects throughout the years. Gibbons in 2011 won the Janet C. Hunter Prize, which is awarded annually for outstanding service to Knox College. Gibbons came to Knox from Culver-Stockton College, where he earned a bachelor's degree, played football for three years, and then served for one year as a graduate assistant coach.

Gibbons and his wife Carla are the proud parents of Ella, Annabeth, Charlie, Gracie, and IdaMae Gibbons. They reside in Altona.

SCOTT SUNDERLAND ATC, EMT-B HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER B.S., Illinois State University M.S., Illinois State University

ATHLETIC TRAINING STAFF Back Row, L to R: Jessica Lee, Chris McTeague, Erica Witkowski MS, ATC, Scott Sunderland MS, ATC, Shana Sewick MS, ATC, Gillian Streit ATC, Braden Ogden. Front Row, L to R: Lacey Miller, Annika Swanson, Jodi Gormley, Khanzada- Marie Kurbanova.

Not pictured: Carmen Benoit, Sarina Dacio, Kaitlyn Haase, Makenna Kuecks, Jackie Pavlovsky, Jamahra Richardson, Brisa Rubalcava, Joey Salazar, Kaylyn Spencer.

6 Knox College Football 2021

2021 PRAIRIE FIRE FOOTBALL ROSTER #

NAME

POS.

HT.

WT.

YR.

HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL

2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 28 29 30 31 33 34 36 40 41 43 44 45 47 51 52 54 56 58 63 64 65 69 70 71 72 73 74 76 77 78 79 81 82 84 87 88 89 90 91 92

Tyrell Pierce Derrick Jackson T.J. Nehls Grant Graham Trevor Geggie Kendall Ballman Kailob Haag Gunner Belt Kaile Williams Ethan Rolph-Jones Anthony Vazquez Lucas Cruz Tyler Elfering Caleb Spinks Owen Beaver Liam Gallagher Anthony Ratliff Hunter Anderson Todd Smith Ean Rau Isaac Mora Larry Harris John Hunter William Gutknecht Darnell Centeno Payton Winters Arthur Anthony Jr. Sam Walker Ethan Stout Davis Brumbaugh Jesus Fernandez Caleb DeJong Daniel Rodriguez Kolton Krutsinger Landon Rice Jacob Lesus Jonathan Sarich Jacob Etienne Zak Aragon Emerson Smith Charlie Gibbons Julian Huggins Andrew Winkler Henry Rusch Keegen Hodges Logan Head Tristin O'Connor Ethan Huss Mitchell Durham Esteban Alvarez Creed Justice Carter Wyatt Brayden Lynch Anthony Garcia Preston Lade Daytin Davis Dustin Cates Melakhi Folds Elijah McPherson James Aygun

WR RB RB QB RB DB DB RB QB WR QB DL WR DL WR DB DB RB DB LB DB DB LB LB DB TE DB RB DL LB LB LB LB LB DL OL DL DL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL DL OL OL OL OL OL TE WR LB K WR TE DL DL DL

6-1 5-9 5-10 5-10 5-10 5-10 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-9 5-11 5-9 5-9 5-10 6-0 5-9 5-9 5-8 5-10 5-10 6-3 5-8 5-11 6-2 5-7 5-10 5-11 5-10 6-0 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-2 5-11 6-4 6-3 6-0 5-10 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-2 5-10 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-0

180 155 225 185 160 155 175 180 175 175 165 225 185 180 170 175 155 195 165 205 160 155 190 205 145 230 175 220 195 170 175 215 200 175 260 270 215 215 230 227 265 265 270 260 265 250 255 340 260 280 260 225 140 195 150 185 230 235 290 210

So. Sr. Jr. 5th Sr. Jr. So. So. Jr. Sr. Fy. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. So. So. So. Sr. Fy. Sr. Fy. Fy. Jr. Fy. So. So. Fy. Jr. Jr. Fy. Sr. So. Jr. So. So. So. Fy. Fy. Sr. Fy. So. So. So. So. Sr. Fy. Fy. Fy. So. So. Fy. So. Jr. Fy. Jr. So. So. Fy.

Auburn, AL / Loachapoka High School Miami Gardens, FL / North Miami Kankakee, IL / Bishop McNamara Virden, IL / North Mac Litchfield, IL / Litchfield Effingham, IL / Effingham Whittier, CA / Sonora High School Loda, IL / Paxton - Buckley- Loda High School Henry, IL / St. Bede Academy Hemet, CA / Citrus Valley Whittier, CA / Whittier High School Knoxville, IL / ROWVA Johnsburg, IL / Grant Community High School Galesburg, IL / Mary Carroll, TX Bedford, IN / Bedford - North Lawrence H S Bartlett, IL / Bartlett High School Joplin, MO / Joplin High School Paxton, IL / Paxton - Buckley- Loda High School Concord, NC / Concord Senior High School Abbotsford, WI / Abbotsford Whittier, CA / La Salle High School Mountain View, HI / Tustin Chester, IL / Chester High School Madison, WI / West High School North Miami Beach, FL / North Miami Centralia, IL / Centralia High School Plainfield, IL / Plainfield South High School Darwen, UK / Blackburn College, UK Branson, MO / Branson High School Forsyth, IL / Warrensburg Latham La Puente, CA / Nogales Merrill, WI / Merrill Senior High School Monrovia, CA / Arcadia Bourbonnais, IL / Bishop McNamara High School Princeville, IL / Princeville McHenry, IL / McHenry Community High School Woodridge, IL / Nazareth Academy Eldorado, IL / Eldorado High School Los Lunas, NM / Valencia High School Littleton, CO / Littleton High School Altona, IL / ROWVA Salem IL / Salem Community High School Grand Rapids, MI / Caledonia High School Stephens City, VA / Sherando High School Freeport, IL / Freeport High School Columbia, MO / Father Tolton Catholic High Schaumburg, IL / Schaumburg Effingham, IL / Effingham High School Spring Grove, IL / Richmond-Burton Community HS Berwyn, IL / Morton West High School Raleigh, IL / Eldorado High School Rockford, IL / Rockford East High School Winamac, IN / Winamac Community High School La Habra, CA / Sonora High School Kankakee, IL / Bishop McNamara Stillwell, OK / Lincoln High School Springdale, WA / Mary Walker Covington, GA / Alcovy High School Fultondale, AL / Tabernacle Christian School Naperville, IL / Benet Academy

Knox College Football 2021 7

2021 P R A IR IE F 2 TYRELL PIERCE Occupational Therapy Auburn, AL Laachapoka HS

So.

3 DERRICK JACKSON Business Miami Gardens, FL North Miami HS

8 Knox College Football 2021

Sr.

4 T.J. NEHLS Nursing Kankakee, IL Bishop McNamara HS

Jr.

5 GRANT GRAHAM Elementary Education Virden, IL North Mac HS

5th

6 TREVOR GEGGIE History Litchfield, IL Litchfield HS

Sr.

I R E FOOT BA LL 7 KENDALL BALLMAN Undecided Effingham, IL Effingham HS

Jr.

9 KAILOB HAAG Psychology Whittier, CA Sonora HS

So.

10 GUNNER BELT So. Biochemistry Loda, IL Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS

11 KAILE WILLIAMS Jr. Anthropology & Sociology Henry, IL St. Bede Academy

13 ETHAN ROLPH-JONES Sr. Business Hemet, CA Citrus Valley HS

Knox College Football 2021 9

14 ANTHONY VASQUEZ Fy. Undecided Whittier, CA Whittier HS

15 LUCAS CRUZ Undecided Knoxville, IL ROWVA HS

Sr.

17 TYLER ELFERING So. Business and Management Johnsburg, IL Grant Community HS

18 CALEB SPINKS Business Galesburg, IL Mary Carroll HS (Texas)

21 LIAM GALLAGHER Undecided Bartlett, IL Bartlett HS

So.

22 ANTHONY RATLIFF So. Business and Management Joplin, MO Joplin HS

23 HUNTER ANDERSON So. Environmental Science Paxton, IL Paxton-Buckley-Loda HS

24 TODD SMITH So. Business and Management Concord, NC Concord Senior HS

25 EAN RAU Elementary Education Abbotsford, WI Abbotsford HS

28 ISAAC MORA Undecided Whittier, CA La Salle HS

Fy.

29 LARRY HARRIS Biology Mountain View, HI Tustin HS

30 JOHN HUNTER Undecided Chester, IL Chester HS

Fy.

31 WILLIAM GUTKNECHT Fy. Undecided Madison, WI West HS

33 DARNELL CENTENO Jr. Political Science/Pre-Law North Miami Beach, FL North Miami HS

34 PAYTON WINTERS Undecided Centralia, IL Centralia HS

Fy.

36 ARTHUR ANTHONY JR So. Business and Management Plainfield, IL Plainfield South HS

40 SAM WALKER Sports Studies Darwen, UK Blackburn College, UK

So.

41 ETHAN STOUT Undecided Branson, MO Branson HS

43 DAVIS BRUMBAUGH Jr. Computer Science Forsyth, IL Warrensburg Latham HS

44 JESUS FERNANDEZ Biology La Puente, CA Nogales HS

Jr.

45 CALEB DEJONG Undecided Merrill, WI Merrill Senior HS

47 DANIEL RODRIGUEZ Sr. Psychology Monrovia, CA Arcadia HS

10 Knox College Football 2021

Sr.

Fy.

JR.

Fy.

51 KOLTON KRUTSINGER So. Undecided Bourbonnais, IL Bishop McNamara HS

19 OWEN BEAVER So. Pre-Medicine Bedford, IN Bedford-North Lawrence HS

52 LANDON RICE Undecided Princeville, IL Princeville HS

Sr.

Jr.

54 JACOB LESUS So. History/Secondary Education McHenry, IL McHenry Community HS

56 JONATHAN SARICH So. Undecided Woodridge, IL Nazareth Academy

58 JACOB ETIENNE Biology Eldorado, IL Eldorado HS

65 CHARLIE GIBBONS Sr. History/Secondary Education Altona, IL ROWVA HS

69 JULIAN HUGGINS Undecided Salem, IL Salem Community HS

63 ZAK ARAGON Undecided Los Lunas, NM Valencia HS

Fy.

64 EMERSON SMITH Undecided Littleton, CO Littleton HS

70 ANDREW WINKLER So. Business and Management Grand Rapids, MI Caledonia HS

71 HENRY RUSCH History and Economics Stephens City, VA Sherando HS

So.

72 KEEGEN HODGES So. Business and Management Freeport, IL Freeport HS

73 LOGAN HEAD So. Environmental Science Columbia, MO Father Tolton Catholic HS

74 TRISTIN O’CONNOR Sr. Physics Schaumburg, IL Schaumburg HS

76 ETHAN HUSS Undecided Effingham, IL Effingham HS

77 MITCHELL DURHAM Fy. Undecided Spring Grove, IL Richmond-Burton Comm. HS

78 ESTEBAN ALVAREZ Undecided Berwyn, IL Morton West HS

Fy.

79 CREED JUSTICE Engineering Raleigh, IL Eldorado HS

So.

81 CARTER WYATT So. Business and Management Rockford, IL Rockford East HS

82 BRAYDEN LYNCH Fy. Undecided Winamac, IN Winamac Community HS

84 ANTHONY GARCIA Psychology La Habra, CA Sonora HS

87 PRESTON LADE Business Kankakee, IL Bishop McNamara HS

Jr.

88 DAYTIN DAVIS Undecided Stillwell, OK Lincoln HS

Fy.

89 DUSTIN CATES Engineering Springdale, WA Mary Walker HS

90 MELAKHI FOLDS So. Business and Management Covington, GA Alcovy HS

91 ELIJAH MCPHERSON So. Athletic Training Fultondale, AL Tabernacle Christian School

92 JAMES AYGUN Undecided Naperville, IL Benet Academy

Fy.

Fy.

Jr.

So.

Fy.

So.

Fy.

Knox College Football 2021 11

KNOX COLLEGE Knox College is a vibrant community of students and teachers with diverse perspectives. A place where you can put your education into practice. A college that changes lives.

We’re not simply an education; we’re an experience. And when you take that experience out into the so-called real world, you discover that it works for you. And for the people you’re working and living with.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

KNOX.EDU

THE BRONZE TURKEY Knox is full of school spirit, especially when it comes to the Knox-Monmouth College rivalry.

It is the sixth-oldest rivalry in the nation. It began with a football game in 1888, and now the winner takes home the Bronze Turkey trophy, though the winner hasn’t always kept it.

The trophy has been stolen, hidden, and/or held for ransom several times in the history of the contest. Bronze Turkey bragging rights are on the line every year in a game that has been played in the rain, mud, snow, and even on national television.

This season marks the 132nd Bronze Turkey game, to be held on November 13, 2021, at Monmouth College.

12 Knox College Football 2021

ABOUT KNOX Location ..........................Galesburg, IL (33,500) Founded ...................................................1837 Enrollment ...............................................1,200 Character ..............................Private, residential four-year, liberal arts college President ...........................C. Andrew McGadney Athletic Director ...............................Daniella Irle School Colors ............................Purple and Gold Athletic Nickname..............................Prairie Fire National Affiliation .....................NCAA Division III Conference...............Midwest Conference (MWC) First Year of Football..................................1891 Stadium .......................................Knosher Bowl 6,000 capacity, synthetic turf

At Knox, the leadership, discipline, and drive to achieve you’ll acquire as a student and as an athlete will prepare you for any pursuit. The creative, analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills that define a Knox education—no matter what your major or your sport—are endlessly applicable as you enter the research lab, the law school, the business start-up, the theatre stage, the social service agency, or the graduate school.

Knox is a member of the NCAA Division III Midwest Conference, one of the oldest athletic conferences in the nation, where the competition is intense and spirited. The Midwest Conference is known for sending teams to post-season play, giving you the opportunity to compete at the highest level of Division III competition.

BELOIT COLLEGE CORNELL COLLEGE GRINNELL COLLEGE ILLINOIS COLLEGE KNOX COLLEGE

LAKE FOREST COLLEGE LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY MONMOUTH COLLEGE RIPON COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO*

*Football affiliate

Knox College Football 2021 13

ATHLETIC FACILITIES STISSER FIELD AT KNOSHER BOWL For nearly a half-century, Knox has boasted one of the best smallcollege football fields in the nation. A bowl-shaped contour that puts fans close to the action was created in 1964 with earth excavated during construction of Knox's Ford Center for the Fine Arts. Starting in 2008, improvements have included installation of an all-weather FieldTurf playing surface, and new home and visitor bleachers. The Oberembt Amenities Center, named after former Knox football coach Randy Oberembt, houses food preparation, concession and restroom facilities. The Luetger Pavilion is also a popular gathering spot for fans. The field is named in memory of Vern Stisser ’63, a dedicated trustee and benefactor of Prairie Fire football. The bowl is named in honor of long time Knox coach and retired athletic director Harley Knosher. If you have an opportunity to visit the Knox campus during the week, be sure to ask for a tour of the athletic facilities, including Memorial Gymnasium, T. Fleming Fieldhouse, and the state-of-the-art E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center.

14 Knox College Football 2021

E. & L. ANDREW FITNESS CENTER The multilevel facility features cardio and selectorized exercise machines on the mezzanine level and Reflex and Hammerstrength free weight systems on the lower level. A series of wide-screen televisions with a multichannel radiotransmitted audio system spans the mezzanine, and a wall of windows provides bright, natural light and great views of the campus.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON KNOX COLLEGE ATHLETICS, VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

PRAIRIEFIRE.KNOX.EDU

Knox College Football 2021 15

THE FACTS ABOUT KNOX COLLEGE 60+

1,200

Top

25

courses of study

most diverse liberal arts colleges

undergraduates 57% women 43% men 34% students of color 19% international 45 states 49 countries

The location 33,000 hardworking, community-minded people in Galesburg 3 blocks from campus to Seminary Street shopping district 3 hours from Galesburg to Chicago on Amtrak’s Carl Sandburg train

34 football records broken in the last 7 years

5 words everyone says: “It feels like family here.”

60%

100%

of students participate in varsity, club, or intramural sports

of students pursue experiential learning

16 Knox College Football 2021

89% of students complete independent study, research, or creative projects

majors & minors Africana Studies American Studies Anthropology and Sociology Archaeology Art • Art Museum Studies • Design Art History Arts Administration Asian Studies Astronomy Biochemistry* Biology* Business and Management Chemistry* Chinese Classic Languages Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies

Computer Science* Creative Writing Dance Studies Data Science Earth Science Economics Educational Studies • Elementary • Secondary • Special Content Areas English Literature Environmental Science* Environmental Studies Film Studies French Gender and Women’s Studies German Health Studies History

International Relations International Studies Japanese Journalism Latin American Studies Mathematics* Modern Languages Music • Ethnomusicology • Jazz/Popular Music • Musicology • Music Performance • Music Theory/Composition Neuroscience* Peace and Justice Studies Philosophy Physics* Political Science Psychology*

Public Policy Religious Studies Self-Designed Studies Social Service Spanish • Spanish Translation and Interpreting Statistics Theatre • Design and Technology • Directing • Dramatic Literature and History • Performance • Playwriting

*These programs offer both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Pre-Professional & Other Programs

The campus

Engineering Law Medicine Nursing Occupational Therapy Optometry College Honors Peace Corps Preparatory Program Sports Studies (courses) Teacher Certification

100+ student-run clubs and organizations 18 NCAA Division III teams President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll 12 students in the average first-year suite (meaning: 12 friends from around the world) Really lovely library; oddly named café (Gizmo) in student union Favorite traditions: Flunk Day, Bronze Turkey Bowl, Pumphandle

The Knox Football Coaching Staff has

Student to faculty ratio: 11 to 1 Average class size: 14

95 combined total years football coaching experience with 45 of that at Knox

$2,000 Power of Experience Grant to every incoming student

Division III athletic teams

Top 4% of national liberal arts colleges producing successful Ph.D. candidates

Baseball Basketball Cross-Country Football Golf Indoor Track and Field Outdoor Track and Field Soccer Softball Swimming and Diving Volleyball

m m, w m, w m m, w m, w m, w m, w w m, w w

In the last 7 years,

41

players earned All Conference honors and

95 Academic All-Conference awards

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PRAIRIE FIRE FOOTBALL: Contact Coach Aaron Willits at: Department of Athletics Knox College 2 East South Street, K-226 Galesburg, IL 61401

Phone: 309-341-7667 awillits@knox.edu

VISIT KNOX The best way to get to know Knox is to visit. See firsthand what a human-powered education can do for you. To schedule a visit, Contact Coach Willits or go to knox.edu/visit for more information.