Knox College Athletics

Joe Metzka is one of the most dominant kickers and overall athletes in Knox football history. He graduated in 1996 after a spectacular career on the gridiron.

Joe was named All-American in 1993, 1994, and 1995 as well as Preseason All-American in 1994 and 1995. He holds the Knox record for most field goals in a career (22), best field goal percentage (.733), most field goals in a game (5), longest field goal made (53 yards), most punts in career (220), and most punt yards in a career (7,627). He also holds the single season record for extra point percentage (1.000). He appears in the football record book 54 times. Joe was also named All-Midwest Conference a total of five times, three times as a punter and twice as a kicker. He was named first team All-Conference for four of the five.

Joe was also a four year letter winner on the track and field teams, where he threw javelin and spent time as a sprinter.

Joe's teammates and coaches remember him as humble, loyal, and quick to give praise to his teammates.

Teammate Erik Nelson said, "Joe Metzka streaked through our program like a meteor sent from space. He was probably one of the most laid back, respectful, and humble men on the team. He also happened to be the best kicker and punter that I believe has ever played for Knox College and probably the Midwest Conference. It is not an exaggeration to say there were games decided on his kicks, and I can still remember the Beloit College "mud bowl" game in the Knox Bowl where his field goals were the only points scored in the game."

"At the end of the 1993 season, we played Monmouth in the Bronze Turkey game and our team record stood at 4-4," said former head football coach Andy Gibbons. "Joe was incredible, kicking a school record five field goals and also punting us out of trouble a number of times. We beat Monmouth that day without ever scoring a touchdown. It was our first winning season since 1988 and first win over Monmouth since 1985. To this day, I believe Joe's performance that day was one of the driving forces to our success in the 1990's."

Joe graduated from Knox with a sociology and secondary education double major. He performed as a member of the Knox College Jazz Band all four years on top of his achievements on the field.

After graduation, Joe went on to earn his Master of Science in Industrial Psychology and his PhD in Psychology. He currently teaches psychology at O'Fallon High School and McKendree University. He also plays guitar in the Joe Metzka Band and the group plays venues in the St. Louis area, including St. Louis Blues hockey games.