Developing a sense of discipline and pride
Athletics at Knox has been building a winning tradition for more than a century. We awarded our first letter in 1881. Our first basketball team -- a women's club that played teams from Galesburg and surrounding communities -- took the court in 1896. Men's and women's intercollegiate teams followed just one year later and now when you wear the purple and gold of Knox's 18 varsity athletic teams, you'll join student-athletes who compete with a passion and intensity that makes Prairie Fire the only appropriate name for them.
Knox is a member of the NCAA Division III and the Midwest Conference (MWC), one of the oldest conferences in the nation. Competition in the conference is intense and spirited, including the local rivalry between Knox and Monmouth College -- the sixth-oldest athletic rivalry in the country.
Women's basketball joined the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women (MACW) during the 1978-79 season and began play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) during the 1981-82 season. Other women's sports followed shortly after. The MACW merged with the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) in 1994 to form the modern version of the MWC.
Knox is committed to building championship athletic programs that rival the academic accomplishments of our faculty and students. As a Knox student-athlete, you'll train in some of the best athletic facilities, and your coaches will challenge you to grow and achieve at even higher levels than you might have expected.
The College is committed to the NCAA Division III philosophy of making academics the priority, placing the highest emphasis on the overall quality of the educational experience. As part of this philosophy, Knox also seeks to establish and maintain an environment that values cultural diversity and gender equity among Prairie Fire athletes and coaching staff.
Our coaches are educators, dedicated to the success of each student-athlete -- both in the classroom and in their chosen sports. Prairie Fire staff consistently challenge students to reach their potential as students and as athletes. They are committed to winning -- both on and off the field.
Quick Sports Facts
Mascot: Prairie Fire
Colors: Purple and Gold
Affiliation: NCAA Division III
Conference: Midwest Conference
Interim Director of Athletics: Adam Hertz
