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John J. Knight

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John J. Knight
Biographical details
Born(1899-12-20)December 20, 1899
Grafton, West Virginia, U.S.
DiedJuly 12, 1988(1988-07-12) (aged 88)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materWest Virginia Wesleyan College (1923)
Playing career
Football
1919–1922West Virginia Wesleyan
Basketball
1919–1922West Virginia Wesleyan
Baseball
1919–1922West Virginia Wesleyan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1923–1924Weston HS (WV)
1925–1929Wheeling HS (WV)
1930–1944Bethany (WV)
1953–1962Bethany (WV)
Sprint football
1948Ohio State
Basketball
1925–1929Wheeling HS (WV)
1930–?Bethany (WV)
Baseball
1930–1947Bethany (WV)
Golf
1930–1970Bethany (WV)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1933–1969Bethany (WV)
1959–1960NAIA (president)
Head coaching record
Overall66–110–6 (college football)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
NAIA Hall of Fame (1963)
Bethany (WV) Hall of Fame (1977)
West Virginia Wesleyan Hall of Fame

John J. Knight (December 20, 1899 – July 12, 1988) was an American athletic director and college football coach. He was the athletic director for Bethany College from 1933 until his retirement in 1969. He was the head football for Bethany from 1930 to 1944 and from 1953 to 1962.

Playing career

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Knight grew up in Grafton, West Virginia, and attended Grafton High School.[1] He played college football, basketball, and baseball for West Virginia Wesleyan.[2] He earned twelve letters while playing for the Bobcats.

Coaching career

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In 1923, Knight was the head football coach for Weston High School.[1] In 1925, he served as the head coach for Wheeling High School.[1] In 1930, he earned his first college football head coaching position for Bethany College.[3] He took over following the departure of David C. Morrow. He held the position until 1944.[4] In his first fifteen seasons with the school he produced four winning seasons and a high of 6–2 in 1936, 1940, and 1942. In 1948, Knight was the head football coach for the Ohio State sprint football team.[2] In 1953, he returned to Bethany as their head coach.[5][6][7] He coached for ten more seasons and finished his overall career with the Bison with an overall record of 66–110–6. He retired after the 1962 season.[2]

From 1925 to 1929, Knight served as the head basketball coach for Wheeling High School.[2] In 1930, he held the same position for Bethany.[2][4]

From 1930 to 1947, Knight was the baseball coach for Bethany.[2]

From 1930 to 1970, Knight was the golf coach for Bethany.[8]

Administrative career

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In 1933, Knight was hired as the athletic director for Bethany College.[1][9] He served the position until his retirement following the 1969 school year.[10] From 1959 to 1960 he served as the president of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).[1][10]

Honors and death

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Knight is a member of the NAIA,[1] Bethany,[11] and West Virginia Wesleyan halls of fame.[12]

Knight died on July 12, 1988, in San Diego.[13]

Head coaching record

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College

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Bethany Bison (Tri-State Conference / West Virginia Athletic Conference) (1930–1932)
1930 Bethany 0–8 0–3 / 0–2 5th / N/A[n 1]
1931 Bethany 1–6 0–2 / 1–2 4th / N/A[n 1]
1932 Bethany 0–5–2 0–3 / 0–2 6th / N/A[n 1]
Bethany Bison (Tri-State Conference) (1933)
1933 Bethany 0–5–1 0–3 6th
Bethany Bison (West Virginia Athletic Conference / West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1934–1944)
1934 Bethany 1–5 N/A[n 1]
1935 Bethany 5–3 1–0 N/A[n 1]
1936 Bethany 6–2 N/A[n 1]
1937 Bethany 2–6 1–2 N/A[n 1]
1938 Bethany 2–6 0–4 9th
1938 Bethany 3–3–1 1–1–1 N/A[n 1]
1940 Bethany 6–2 2–2 5th
1941 Bethany 0–6–1 0–2–1 N/A[n 1]
1942 Bethany 6–2 1–2 N/A[n 1]
1943 Bethany 0–6 N/A[n 1]
1944 Bethany 1–4 N/A[n 1]
Bethany Bison (West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1953–1961)
1953 Bethany 3–4 1–0 N/A[n 1]
1954 Bethany 2–5 1–0 N/A[n 1]
1955 Bethany 6–1 2–0 N/A[n 1]
1956 Bethany 6–2 2–0 N/A[n 1]
1957 Bethany 5–3 1–0 N/A[n 1]
1958 Bethany 1–6–1 0–0–1 N/A[n 1]
1959 Bethany 1–8 0–1 N/A[n 1] (Western)
1960 Bethany 1–6 0–1 N/A[n 1] (Western)
1961 Bethany 2–5 0–1 N/A[n 1]
Bethany Bison (Presidents' Athletic Conference) (1962)
1962 Bethany 6–1 6–1 2nd
Bethany: 66–110–6
Total: 66–110–6

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Did not qualify for conference standings

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Knight, Grafton High Grad, Named To Hall Of Fame". The Cumberland News. December 10, 1963. p. 11. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Knight Retires As Grid Coach At Bethany College". The Weirton Daily Times. November 20, 1962. p. 15. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bethany Announces 1936 Grid Schedule". The Pittsburgh Gazette. February 18, 1936. p. 20. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Bethany College Names New Coach". The Pittsburgh Press. June 20, 1948. p. 32. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Bethany College Charges Admission For First Time". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. October 23, 1954. p. 9. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Tables Turned After 15 Years". St. Joseph Gazette. November 2, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Stimmel, Tom (November 2, 1955). "Bethany Surprises with Unbeaten Season". Elmira Advertiser. p. 13. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "Bethany Names Wrestling Coach". The Charleston Daily Mail. July 17, 1970. p. 14. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "Unbeaten Geneva Eyes Win No. 10; Bethany Alumni in Annual Session". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 20, 1960. p. 24. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Knight Quits Position At Bethany College". The Raleigh Register. April 30, 1969. p. 25. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Bethany College (WV)".
  12. ^ "Hall of Fame". West Virginia Wesleyan College Athletics. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  13. ^ "Miscellany". The Pittsburgh Press. July 14, 1988. p. 26. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
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