Kyle Knock was named the new football coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie

The former Iowa State player has 19 years of experience as an assistant coach, 17 of them at alma mater Cedar Rapids Kennedy

CEDAR RAPIDS – Kyle Knock had some heavy hitters behind him in his bid to land the varsity football coaching job at Cedar Rapids Prairie.

His father, Don, is Iowa Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame member, a guy who won a state championship at Grundy Center, put together great seasons at Cedar Rapids Kennedy and worked with Iowa State Universitys program.

Speaking of Iowa State, former coach Dan McCarney had a few kind words for Knock with Prairie director of operations Rocky Bennett before the interview process began last week. Kyle played tight end at McCarney at ISU.

Coach Mac, I tell you what, the guy is retired, but he spends most days on the phone, Kyle Knock said. He has been in contact with me since I left Iowa State. He is the first to call me on my birthday every year. Wakes me up and says Get your butt moving. You get off the phone and you feel like you can put the helmet on and do it again and play again.

He’s been in my corner. He called me.

Prairie announced Tuesday that Knock, 43, will lead the Hawks program, replacing Mark Bliss, who recently stepped down as head coach to help care for an adult daughter with cancer.

Knock has been an assistant coach for 19 years: 17 at his alma mater Kennedy, one at Cedar Rapids Washington and one at the Missouri school where he coaches with his father. He said he picked up something from every head coach he worked under, from his father Brian White and Tim Lewis at Kennedy to Paul James at Washington.

This is what I always wanted, Knock said. I grew up watching my dad do it, it was something that was always in the back of my mind. I wanted to be like him. I remember kids coming to our house when I was young, his relationships with high school football players. I thought you know what, that’s what I want to do one day. I’ve done it as an assistant and it was great.

Knock has experience as both an offensive and defensive coordinator, but plans to work with the offense at Prairie. He said he’s going away from the unique one-wing rush-heavy attack favored by Bliss.

He said he and Bliss, who will remain a teacher at Prairie, have already talked about the Prairie program and its players and will do so more moving forward. Knock officially introduced himself to his new team on Tuesday afternoon.

He is not a teacher, he works as a vice president Midwest Athletic Club.

I think this is one of those programs that is a diamond in the rough, he said. Prairie gets a chance to replicate what they do in the middle of the state.

Comments: (319)-398-8258, [email protected]