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| Concordia-Moorhead athletics photo |
Knox athletic director Daniella Irle announced Aaron Willits as the Prairie Fire head football coach on Monday, Feb. 8. He replaces Damon Tomeo, who was let go at the end of November following seven seasons as head coach.
Tomeo, who was hired in December 2012, inherited a program that had won four games over the previous four seasons. The Prairie Fire went 18-51 over his seven seasons.
Willits was selected following a national search that included more than 150 applicants.
Knox has not beaten its Bronze Turkey archrival, Monmouth, since 1998.
"We are excited to have someone of Aaron's caliber and passion leading our football program," Irle said. "He has ... consistently recruited tremendous student-athletes to a highly competitive midwestern program in a strong NCAA Division III conference. In addition to his offensive intelligence, I was also very impressed with Aaron's well-rounded knowledge of the game. He brings a high football IQ to the table that extends well beyond the offensive side of the ball. He is very knowledgeable on the defensive side of the ball, as well as special teams. Overall, Aaron has a clear and complete vision for the future of the Prairie Fire football program, and I am confident that he can take us to the next level with his energy and work ethic."
Willits, a 2008 Knox graduate, makes his return to Knox after a successful run as the offensive coordinator at Concordia-Moorhead. In his nine years with the Cobbers, the team went 62-28 and 48-24 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Willits coached 21 all-conference performers, four D3football.com all-region performers and one D3football.com All-American. He also coached two MIAC Most Valuable Players and the Buddy Bell Minnesota College Impact Player of the Year. Former Cobber Brandon Zylstra, a 2015 All-MIAC performer, is a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers.
"It means so much in so many different ways for me to be returning to Knox. It means I have come full circle, and now get to invest in a football program and college that invested in me," said Willits. "I get to work alongside coaches and leaders that made a huge difference in my life, and now I can offer that exceptional experience to the next generation of student-athletes on and off the field. Coming back to Knox, and to this position, in particular, is a tremendous responsibility. I am truly honored, and ready to get to work. I want to thank Director of Athletics Daniella Irle, President Teresa Amott, and the entire search committee for allowing me the opportunity to present my vision for the future of the Knox College football program, as well as for their belief in my vision and ability to see it through."
On top of his offensive coordinator role, Willits also served as recruiting coordinator, strength and conditioning coach, and equipment manager for the Cobbers. Willits orchestrated more than 150 campus visits in 2018, and the team averaged more than 50 student-athlete commitments per year during his tenure. Willits plans to bring that same level of commitment to recruiting and retention to Knox.
"One of the things that stood out to me was his understanding of the strengths of Knox, the priority we place on cultural competency, and how to create and implement a recruiting plan that encompasses those elements," added Irle. "He will develop a recruiting plan that will extend beyond the football program to complement other Prairie Fire teams and the college as a whole. I was also impressed with the relationships he developed with the student-athletes and staff he worked with at Concordia College, and in their surrounding community. Aaron is a team player, and will help us not only develop the football program, but the College and the athletics department as a whole."
"The coaching staff has worked hard to create a class, and I want to keep that momentum going. The immediate plan is to find high-quality student-athletes who want to join our program and do things the right way on and off the field," Willits said. "Being from the area, I want to establish strong local recruiting ties immediately. That being said, I also want to broaden our footprint nationally, and I am willing to travel across the country to find players who want to do things the Knox way and be a part of our program. I have developed hundreds of relationships with student-athletes and recruits over my years as a coach, and being able to connect with recruits is key to the success of the program."
Coming off one of the largest recruiting classes in recent history, the 2021 Knox College football team is poised to move up the Midwest Conference standings, coming off a 3-6 finish, 1-4 in the MWC in 2019.
"The future of Knox College football is filled with potential. I envision a team of talented student-athletes who are going to hold each other accountable, and work hard to put a good product on the field," Willits said. "This product will represent their efforts as well as those that have played in the past, and be something that the entire Knox College campus, community, and family can be proud of. And yes, I envision winning more football games. I want to create meaningful winning experiences for our student-athletes on the field without sacrificing the development of quality students and community members off the field."
Willits began his coaching career at Knox following graduation. He served as recruiting coordinator for two years and coached the offensive line his first year and running backs in his second year.
As a Prairie Fire player, Willits earned All-Midwest Conference honors in his senior year when he rushed for 648 yards in only eight games. He was voted the team's Most Valuable Offensive Player in 2007. He rushed for 1,626 yards for his college career, scored 11 touchdowns, and carried the ball 377 times.
Willits earned his bachelor's degree in social science and secondary education from Knox in 2008.