Head football coach Ted Roof completed his new staff Wednesday by hiring yet another offensive guru.
"I'm very pleased to announce Tom Knotts as our quarterbacks coach," Roof said Wednesday at a press conference in the Yoh Football Center. "He has a tremendous history of winning and that's something we want to develop with our program."
Knotts has been extremely successful in a 21-year high school coaching career in North Carolina, particularly in the past four seasons when he was the head coach of Charlotte Independence High School. While there, Knotts' teams went 63-1 and won four state titles, during which Independence was ranked in the top 20 of USA Today's season-ending national poll each year. His most high-profile player was Chris Leak, who won the SEC's freshman of the year award this past season for his work at quarterback for the Florida Gators.
Previously, Knotts had served at the helm of West Charlotte High for 11 years, a span during which he won the 1995 state title en route to an overall ledger of 113-32. His other head coaching experience came at Harding High School, which he led to a 52-22 mark over six seasons.
The constant through Knotts' success has been a big-time quarterback--all but one of the gunslingers Knotts has coached in his 21 years has signed a Division I or I-AA scholarship, including Duke quarterback Dave Greene, who saw action for the Blue Devils from 1995-97.
"When you look at [Knotts'] quarterbacks, the thing that jumps out in my mind is what their records have been, what their team records have been," Roof said.
According to Knotts, who played defensive back for Duke from 1975-77, the key to coaching quarterbacks comes down to an attitude.
"It's a philosophy that I coach confidently, and I think I instill in my quarterbacks," Knotts said. "I think they're fundamental, we're not scared to throw the ball but we're not going to be stupid about what we do."
Knotts, who has been friends with pass-happy offensive coordinator Marty Galbraith for quite some time, said he had turned down opportunities in college before. The reason? He just wanted to coach for his alma mater.
"Not many people get to live a dream life, but I've pretty much led a dream life," Knotts said. "Ever since I was little I wanted to play at Duke, and when I realized I wasn't going to be able to make the pros, I went into coaching and I always hoped I could come back here."
This dedication to the Blue Devil football program played a large role in Roof's decision to offer the job to Knotts.
"His love for Duke and his wanting to be here was very important to me," Roof said. "We've got a great place here and it is important to me that we have people that want to be here. Not only people that want to be here, but people who deserve to be here and have earned the right to be here."
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