Brian Knorr, who has coached alongside Jim Grobe for 12 years and at three different institutions, will begin his fifth season at Wake Forest in 2012. Knorr was elevated in 2011 to co-defensive coordinator before taking on the role of sole defensive coordinator for the 2012 season. He also works with the Deacon linebackers.
In 2011, Knorr's first year coordinating the defense, the implementation of an aggressive 3-4 scheme led to a resurgence in the Demon Deacon defense and an improvement in every defensive category. Four graduates of the 2011 squad took part in NFL camps, and two were drafted - Kyle Wilber in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys and Josh Bush in the sixth round by the New York Jets.
Knorr was responsible for the development of a young group of receivers who blossomed in 2009. Junior Marshall Williams was third in the ACC in receiving yards per game and fourth in receptions per game. Redshirt freshman Chris Givens led the nation's frosh with eight touchdown receptions.
In 2008, Knorr worked with a group that included D.J. Boldin who led the ACC with 81 receptions. It was also the second-highest total for receptions in a season ever turned in by a Deacon wide out. Boldin signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions following the 2008 season.
Knorr joined the Demon Deacon staff after working for three years at the Air Force Academy where he tutored the strong safeties and outside linebackers in 2005 and 2006 while mentoring the inside linebackers in 2007.
His 2007 linebacking corps featured an All-Conference linebacker and two linebackers who went onto the NFL. The defense helped the Falcons to one of the best turnarounds in Division I football in 2007.
A 1986 graduate of the Air Force Academy with a degree in management, Knorr was a three-year letterman at quarterback for the Falcons. Air Force won 30 games during his three varsity years, marking the most successful three-year run in school history.
Following graduation, Knorr served his tour of duty in the Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he earned his master's in business administration from the University of Dayton in 1991. He returned to the Academy as a captain in 1992 and joined the coaching staff as the assistant offensive line coach, junior varsity head coach and administrative assistant to the head coach.
Knorr left the Academy in 1995 to join Grobe and become the inside linebackers coach at Ohio University, where he led Ohio's resurgence on the defensive front. While at Ohio, the Bobcat defense was ranked in the top five in the Mid-American Conference in scoring, rushing and total defense each year. In 1999, Grobe promoted Knorr to defensive coordinator. The 2000 Ohio defense was one of only five squads in the nation to hold opponents to less than 30 points in every contest.
In 2000, Knorr became the first Air Force Academy graduate to become a head football coach at the Division I level when he was named to succeed Grobe as head coach at Ohio. During Knorr's tenure as head coach, he also coordinated the special teams to include a punt team that led the NCAA in punting in 2001.
Ohio's punter, Dave Zastudil, earned All-America honors and went on to play with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. Knorr coached seven players who would eventually play in the National Football League.
The Bobcats were 11-35 during Knorr's four seasons as head coach, including a 4-7 mark with a win at Kentucky in 2004.
After four seasons at Ohio, Knorr returned to the Air Force Academy where he coached under Fisher DeBerry in 2005-06 and Troy Calhoun in 2007.
Knorr was born on Dec. 20, 1963 and is a native of Shawnee Mission, Kan. He and his wife Julie, a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., have a daughter Katie and twins Reagan and Brett.
The Brian Knorr File
Birthdate
December 20, 1963
Hometown
Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Wife
Julie
Children
Katie, Reagan, Brett
Alma Mater
Air Force Academy, 1986
Degree
B.S. in Management
Graduate School
University of Dayton, 1991
Degree
Master's in Business Administration
Playing Background
Earned three letters in football at Air Force Academy (1983-85).
Coaching History
2011-Current (2nd season)
Co-Defensive Coordinator, Wake Forest
2008-Current (5th season)
Assistant Coach, Wake Forest
2005-2007 (3 seasons)
Assistant Coach, Air Force Academy
2001-04 (4 seasons)
Head Coach, Ohio University
1995-01 (7 seasons)
Assistant Coach, Ohio University
1992-94 (3 seasons)
Assistant Offensive Line Coach/JV Head Coach/Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach, Air Force Academy
