Tim Knox, the 2016 Football Scoop Operations Director of the Year, is in his 10th season with the Fighting Illini program in 2021 and 21st overall in operations. Knox oversees the day-to-day operations of the football program while serving as a liaison to several groups in the athletics and university community. 

His broad range of responsibilities includes assisting with the football budget, team travel, and bowl game coordination. Knox also works closely with members of the campus community including the faculty, housing and dining, athletic academic advising. Other duties include game day management, community outreach, the coordination and planning of team events related to the football program, the annual team awards banquet and special projects.

Knox was named Football Scoops’ 2016 Operations Director of the Year after a vote by the award’s previous winners. He was presented the honor at the annual AFCA Convention in Nashville.

Knox came to Illinois after 15 seasons with the Western Michigan football program, including three as a graduate assistant (1997-99), one season as running backs coach (2004) and 11 seasons (2000-03, 2005-11) as director of football operations.

A 1997 graduate of Hiram College, Knox lettered four years at cornerback for the Terriers, earning All-Ohio Athletic Conference Second-Team honors in 1995 and 1996, and honorable mention accolades in 1994. He was also a two-time OAC All-Academic selection in 1995 and 1996.

As a Terrier, he also lettered as a member of the baseball team in 1996 and 1997 and acted as a student assistant coach with the men’s basketball program for three years.

A native of Bainbridge Township, Ohio, Knox is a 1993 graduate of Kenston High School, where he earned eight varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history at Hiram and a master’s in sports administration from WMU in 1999.

Knox’s father, Al, retired in May of 2013 after his 48th year of teaching in Northeast Ohio. He has taught students who have gone onto great professional careers, namely movie star Halle Berry (Bedford HS) and LeBron James (St. Vincent-St. Mary HS).

Knox and his wife, Danielle, reside in Mahomet. The couple has two sons, Caleb and Finn, and two daughters, Langley and Kerrigan. Knox’s niece, Maura, is a collegiate golfer at Mount Union, his nephew, Jack, plays football at Baldwin Wallace, and his nephew Quinn plays football at Marist. 

Knox Year-by-Year