Knox College Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire Football

With a program which has had 25 All-American selections since 1986, the coaching staff emphasizes a one-on-one approach with its players, making sure that every member of the team gets personal attention throughout the year. The team approach, coupled with an experienced coaching staff, gives football at Knox a family-feel that is unique to Knox.

Knox has some tremendous facilities for its football program.  The Prairie Fire play home games on Vernon Stisser Field at the Harley Knosher Bowl.  Featuring an artificial turf playing surface and an amenities center, the Knosher Bowl provides excellent facilities for spectators and athletes alike.  The previous natural-grass Knox Bowl was renovated in the summer of 2008 and renamed the Knosher Bowl, in honor of longtime Knox coach and athletic director Harley Knosher. The banked, bowl-shaped sides of the Knosher Bowl bring the excitement of Prairie Fire football right to the spectators.  The Oberembt Amenities Center, dedicated on October 24, 2009 in honor of former Knox football coach and player Randy Oberembt, provides space for food preparation and concessions, restrooms, a covered picnic area, and storage.  In addition, the E. & L. Andrew Fitness Center gives Knox football players and coaches one of the best strength-training facilities in the conference.

The Prairie Fire are a proud member of the Midwest Conference and play a 10-game varsity schedule, which includes at least four home games each season.

The storied football rivalry between Knox and Monmouth College dates back to 1888 and is the sixth-oldest, and arguably the most exciting rivalry, in the nation. The winner takes home the Bronze Turkey Trophy, although the winner hasn't always kept it. The trophy has been stolen, hidden, and even held for ransom several times in the history of the contest. Bronze Turkey bragging rights are on the line every year in a game that has been played in the rain, mud, snow, and even on national television.

Prairie Fire football players have gone on to a wide variety of successful careers. They include Robert Prout '73 (Anthropology), who played in the NFL for the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. Josh Fourdyce '00 (History) played professionally for the Quad City Steamwheelers for five seasons. Ben Van Vlerah '98 (Economics) is the vice president of commercial banking for BanCo Popular in Naperville, Illinois. Kenneth Kooper '90 (Computer Science) is the president of Catalyst Software Solutions in Chicago. Todd Monken '89 (Economics) is the Offensive Coordinator for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jeffrey Radakovich '84 (Biology) is a physician of sports medicine at Washington State University.

For more information, submit the Recruit Me form or e-mail the head coach at awillits@knox.edu