Knoche joined the Wabash football program as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2016. The Illinois Wesleyan University (2002) graduate brings a wealth of experience and success to the Little Giants.
Knoche spent the previous seven seasons coaching at the University of Chicago, serving as offensive coordinator for the most recent five. The 2015 season saw the Maroon offense set six school records including most rushing yards and completions in a single game, and highest completion percentage and most passing touchdowns in a season. That season Chicago earned its first top-25 ranking in the school’s modern history. Knoche coached 56 All-University Athletic Association First or Second Team selections, including three league Offensive MVPs and two Offensive Rookies of the Year. The 2010 and 2014 teams were undefeated UAA champions. He also served as Chicago’s assistant director of strength and conditioning, recruiting coordinator and oversaw video operations. He started with the program as the running backs coach in 2009 and moved to wide receivers coach in 2010 before being elevated to offensive coordinator.
Prior to Chicago, Knoche worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for two seasons, coaching wide receivers (2008), quarterbacks (2007), and the offensive line (spring 2007). He assisted the offensive and special teams staff. He spent a year at Stanford University as an offensive quality control coach, where he worked with the offensive line in additional to coaching the defensive and special teams scout teams in practice. His coaching career began at North Park University (2004-2005) as a wide receivers coach. Knoche also worked with the special teams at North Park.
Knoche earned three varsity letters as a four-year member of the Illinois Wesleyan football team and was part of the Titans’ 2000 and 2001 Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship teams. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Spanish and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Knoche earned a master’s in pure mathematics in 2006 from the University of Illinois-Chicago. He is recognized as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. In addition to his coaching positions, he worked at Lehman Brothers in New York and Chicago from 2001 to 2004 as an investment banking analyst.
Knoche also serves as the certified strength and conditioning coach for Wabash College.
