OUACHITA BAPTIST HEAD COACH TODD KNIGHT NAMED 2023 AFCA PRESIDENT
January 9, 2023
Ouachita Baptist University head coach Todd Knight will lead the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2023 as president of the organization. Knight, who moves up from first vice-president, succeeds outgoing president Craig Bohl of Wyoming. Knight was elected president by members attending the Association’s 2023 Convention today.
In addition to Knight, the 2023 AFCA officers include first vice-president Jeff McMartin of Central College (Iowa); second vice-president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana and third vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College.
Also serving on the Board in 2023: Steve Ryan, Morningside University; Neal Brown, West Virginia University; Sam Pittman, University of Arkansas; James Franklin, Penn State University; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest University; Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State University; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International University; Bobby Kennedy, ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. Willie Fritz from Tulane University, Danny Gonzales from the University of New Mexico, Maurice Linguist from the University at Buffalo, Jonathan Smith from Oregon State University, Kane Wommack from the University of South Alabama, and Mike Babcock from McKendree University are newly elected members of the Board this year. AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.
Knight completed his 23rd season as head coach at Ouachita Baptist by leading the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and the Great American Conference title. That was Ouachita’s sixth GAC title under Knight, and fourth undefeated regular season. The Tigers are currently on a 14 consecutive winning seasons streak, the longest streak of any team in the state of Arkansas at any level. Ouachita has also been ranked in 51 consecutive AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Polls under Knight and accomplished their highest ranking ever during the 2022 season at No. 3.
Ouachita Baptist also qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2022, helping earn Knight his fourth AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honor. This was the Tigers fifth appearance in the Division II playoffs. In all four years Knight won AFCA Regional honors (2014, 2018, 2019, 2022), the Tigers went undefeated in the regular season. He has a record of 143-99 at Ouachita Baptist and an overall record of 171-131-2 when you include is six seasons as head coach at Delta State. Knight led the Statesmen to their first Gulf South Conference title in 1998, earning him GSC Coach of the Year honors.
After his playing days were over at Ouachita, Knight began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 1986. He became a full-time assistant coach with the Statesmen in 1988, then moved on as an assistant at UTEP for three years before being named head coach at Delta State in 1993. Knight returned to Ouachita in 1999 as head coach.
Knight was named to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 2013 and has served on the NCAA Rules Committee. Knight’s seniors have had a 90 percent graduation rate and his teams are heavily involved in service to the community.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
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Ouachita Baptist University head coach Todd Knight will lead the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2023 as president of the organization. Knight, who moves up from first vice-president, succeeds outgoing president Craig Bohl of Wyoming. Knight was elected president by members attending the Association’s 2023 Convention today.
In addition to Knight, the 2023 AFCA officers include first vice-president Jeff McMartin of Central College (Iowa); second vice-president Bobby Hauck of the University of Montana and third vice-president Jim Catanzaro of Lake Forest College.
Also serving on the Board in 2023: Steve Ryan, Morningside University; Neal Brown, West Virginia University; Sam Pittman, University of Arkansas; James Franklin, Penn State University; Dave Clawson, Wake Forest University; Brian Bohannon, Kennesaw State University; Mike MacIntyre, Florida International University; Bobby Kennedy, ex officio member and chairman of the Assistant Coaches Committee; Van Malone, Kansas State University, ex officio member and chairman of the Minority Advancement Committee; Michael Christensen, Carson (Calif.) High School, ex officio member and chairman of the High School Committee; and Scott Strohmeier, Iowa Western Community College, ex officio member and Junior College representative. Willie Fritz from Tulane University, Danny Gonzales from the University of New Mexico, Maurice Linguist from the University at Buffalo, Jonathan Smith from Oregon State University, Kane Wommack from the University of South Alabama, and Mike Babcock from McKendree University are newly elected members of the Board this year. AFCA Executive Director Todd Berry serves as secretary-treasurer of the organization.
Knight completed his 23rd season as head coach at Ouachita Baptist by leading the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and the Great American Conference title. That was Ouachita’s sixth GAC title under Knight, and fourth undefeated regular season. The Tigers are currently on a 14 consecutive winning seasons streak, the longest streak of any team in the state of Arkansas at any level. Ouachita has also been ranked in 51 consecutive AFCA Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Polls under Knight and accomplished their highest ranking ever during the 2022 season at No. 3.
Ouachita Baptist also qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2022, helping earn Knight his fourth AFCA Regional Coach of the Year honor. This was the Tigers fifth appearance in the Division II playoffs. In all four years Knight won AFCA Regional honors (2014, 2018, 2019, 2022), the Tigers went undefeated in the regular season. He has a record of 143-99 at Ouachita Baptist and an overall record of 171-131-2 when you include is six seasons as head coach at Delta State. Knight led the Statesmen to their first Gulf South Conference title in 1998, earning him GSC Coach of the Year honors.
After his playing days were over at Ouachita, Knight began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delta State in 1986. He became a full-time assistant coach with the Statesmen in 1988, then moved on as an assistant at UTEP for three years before being named head coach at Delta State in 1993. Knight returned to Ouachita in 1999 as head coach.
Knight was named to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 2013 and has served on the NCAA Rules Committee. Knight’s seniors have had a 90 percent graduation rate and his teams are heavily involved in service to the community.
For more information about the AFCA, visit www.AFCA.com. For more interesting articles, check out The Insider and subscribe to our weekly email.
If you are interested in more in-depth articles and videos, please become an AFCA member. You can find out more information about membership and specific member benefits on the AFCA Membership Overview page. If you are ready to join, please fill out the AFCA Membership Application.
