Tony Knap
Encyclopedia
Anthony Joseph "Tony" Knap (December 8, 1914 – September 24, 2011) was a college football
head coach
and former player. He was the head coach at Utah State
(1963–1966), Boise State
(1968–1975), and UNLV
(1976–1981), compiling a career college football
record of 143–53–4.
, and graduated from high school in 1933. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Idaho
in 1936, and played four seasons of college football for the Vandals
. After graduation in 1940, Knap became a high school teacher and coach in Bonners Ferry
, and then spent a year at Lewiston High School
. During World War II
he served in the Navy
, then returned to coaching after the war at Potlatch, Idaho
, where he stayed until 1949. He then moved to Pittsburg High School
in Pittsburg, California
, and then became an assistant coach at Utah State
in 1959 under new coach John Ralston.
Ralston left for Stanford
after the 1962 season and Knap was promoted to head coach, where he compiled a 25–14–1 (.637) record in four seasons, from 1963 to 1966. After a season as an assistant with the BC Lions
in 1967
, he succeeded Lyle Smith
as head coach at Boise State University
in 1968, then still known as Boise College. Smith had just stepped down as head coach and as the athletic director
, hired his former Vandal
teammate. It was Boise's first year as an NAIA independent;
it had previously competed in the junior college
ranks. Two years later in 1970 the Broncos began play in the NCAA
in Division II (then the "College Division") and the Big Sky Conference
.
Knap led the Broncos to a 71–19–1 (.788) record in eight years, including three ten-win seasons and three consecutive Big Sky titles (1973–1975).
His success in Boise led him to Las Vegas
in 1976, where he coached UNLV
for six seasons and compiled a 47–20–2 record (.695), stepping down at age 67 after the 1981 season. UNLV made the Division II playoffs
in his first season and moved up to Division I-A in 1978, his third season at the school. While Knap was head coach, the Rebels played as an independent; UNLV joined the PCAA
the following season in 1982. He was inducted into UNLV's hall of fame in 1989.
; he had suffered from Alzheimer's disease
.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and former player. He was the head coach at Utah State
Utah State Aggies football
The Utah State Aggies are a college football team that competes in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I, representing Utah State University. The Utah State college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Romney Stadium since 1968...
(1963–1966), Boise State
Boise State Broncos football
This page discusses the Boise State football program. For more Boise State athletics, see Boise State Broncos.The Boise State Broncos football program represents Boise State University in college football and compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I as a member of the Mountain West...
(1968–1975), and UNLV
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
(1976–1981), compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 143–53–4.
Biography
The oldest son of Polish immigrants, Knap was raised in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, and graduated from high school in 1933. He accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
in 1936, and played four seasons of college football for the Vandals
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
. After graduation in 1940, Knap became a high school teacher and coach in Bonners Ferry
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
Bonners Ferry is a city in and the county seat of Boundary County, Idaho, United States. The population was 2,543 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, and then spent a year at Lewiston High School
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, then returned to coaching after the war at Potlatch, Idaho
Potlatch, Idaho
Potlatch is a city in Latah County, Idaho, United States. The population was 791 at the 2000 census.-History:Potlatch was founded in 1905 as a company town by the Potlach Corporation. The townsite was chosen because of proximity to Potlatch Corporation's large holdings of western white pine on the...
, where he stayed until 1949. He then moved to Pittsburg High School
Pittsburg High School (California)
Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, California is a suburban school serving all of Pittsburg. It has been in operation since 1924. Over 2,200 students attend the school, which used to be divided into three campuses: East Campus, Main Campus, and North Campus, but since the...
in Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg, California
Pittsburg is a city located in eastern Contra Costa County, California, the outer portion of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 63,264 at the 2010 census....
, and then became an assistant coach at Utah State
Utah State Aggies football
The Utah State Aggies are a college football team that competes in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I, representing Utah State University. The Utah State college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Romney Stadium since 1968...
in 1959 under new coach John Ralston.
Ralston left for Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
after the 1962 season and Knap was promoted to head coach, where he compiled a 25–14–1 (.637) record in four seasons, from 1963 to 1966. After a season as an assistant with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in 1967
1967 BC Lions season
The 1967 BC Lions finished in 5th place in the West Division with a 3–12–1 record after Joe Kapp, Willie Fleming, Tom Hinton, Pat Claridge, Jim Carphin and Dick Fouts left the team following the conclusion of the 1966 season. After losing their first five games, Grey Cup winning head coach Dave...
, he succeeded Lyle Smith
Lyle Smith
Lyle H. Smith is a former American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator in the Untied States. He served as the head football coach at Boise Junior College—now Boise State University—from 1947 to 1950 and from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of...
as head coach at Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in 1968, then still known as Boise College. Smith had just stepped down as head coach and as the athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
, hired his former Vandal
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
teammate. It was Boise's first year as an NAIA independent;
it had previously competed in the junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
ranks. Two years later in 1970 the Broncos began play in the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
in Division II (then the "College Division") and the Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
.
Knap led the Broncos to a 71–19–1 (.788) record in eight years, including three ten-win seasons and three consecutive Big Sky titles (1973–1975).
His success in Boise led him to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1976, where he coached UNLV
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
for six seasons and compiled a 47–20–2 record (.695), stepping down at age 67 after the 1981 season. UNLV made the Division II playoffs
NCAA Division II national football championship
The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
in his first season and moved up to Division I-A in 1978, his third season at the school. While Knap was head coach, the Rebels played as an independent; UNLV joined the PCAA
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
the following season in 1982. He was inducted into UNLV's hall of fame in 1989.
Personal
Knap met and married his wife, the former Mickey McFarland of Bonner's Ferry, during his first year as a teacher. They were wed in April 1941 and had three daughters: Jacqueline, Angeline, and Caroline. Knap and his wife were married over 70 years when he died on September 24, 2011 at Bishop Place Retirement Center in Pullman, WashingtonPullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
; he had suffered from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.