Willits, a 2008 Knox graduate, is entering his fifth year as the head football coach for the Prairie Fire. The program has 12 Midwest Conference victories in Willits' four years at the helm, and the 2024 recruiting class was the largest in school history, pushing the roster size over 90 for the first time in school history.
| Willits' Career Record |
|
Overall |
Conference |
| Year |
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
Place |
| 2021 |
3 |
6 |
.333 |
3 |
6 |
.333 |
7th |
| 2022 |
5 |
5 |
.500 |
4 |
5 |
.444 |
6th |
| 2023 |
3 |
7 |
.333 |
3 |
6 |
.333 |
7th |
| 2024 |
3 |
7 |
.300 |
2 |
7 |
.222 |
T-7th |
| Total |
14 |
25 |
.359 |
12 |
24 |
.333 |
|
|
The 2024 team got off to a strong start, winning its first two games for the first time in seven years, including a 7-6 triumph over Eureka College in the Lincoln Bowl to open the campaign. Receiving All-MWC Second Team honors were a pair of players — OL Creed Justice (his third such honor) and DB Colin Finnigsmier — and Knox ranked second in the league (and 27th nationally) in rushing offense at nearly 200 yards per game. The players demonstrated great discipline throughout the year as well, leading the league and ranking among the top 15 in fewest penalites and penalty yardage.
In 2023, the Prairie Fire earned victories over Beloit and Lawrence at home, as well as Grinnell on the road. Kaile Williams, who earned a spot on the All-MWC First Team, set a Knox QB record with 1,082 rushing yards, which is also the fifth most by any Knox player. Three others were selected for the Second Team: Justice, DL Jonathan Sarich and P Jonathan Walker. The Prairie Fire led the MWC in rushing (220.5 ypg, 19th in D-III) and was also in the top 20 nationally in red zone defense.
In Willits’ second season, he led the program to a 5-5 record, matching the program’s best record of the past 21 campaigns, including big conference victories against Cornell, Lawrence, Grinnell, and Beloit. Knox featured one player on the All-MWC First Team (OL Charlie Gibbons) and two more on the Second Team (LB Ean Rau and DB Kendall Ballman.
The Prairie Fire posted a 3-6 mark overall and in league play in Willits’ first year at the helm, handily defeating Beloit, Grinnell and Lawrence. Rau and Justice made the All-MWC Second Team, as did LB Davis Brumbaugh. The second-leading rushing team tied for the fewest turnovers lost all season in the Midwest Conference.
Willits made his return to Knox after a successful run as the offensive coordinator at Concordia College (Minnesota). In his nine years with the Cobbers, the team went 62-28 and 48-24 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). Willits coached 21 all-conference performers, four all-region performers and an 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, played five season in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings (2018), Carolina Panthers (2019-21) and Detroit Lions (2022).
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 over 150 campus visits in 2018, and the team averaged over 50 student-athlete commitments per year during his tenure. Willits plans to bring that same level of commitment to recruiting and retention to Knox.
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 of Arts degree in social science and secondary education from Knox College in 2008.
Aaron and his wife Marissa have three children, son Cullen and daughters Hattie and Eliza.
