Knotts offers new direction for Dutch Fork football

Dutch Fork High has offered Charlotte Independence High coach Tom Knotts its head coaching position, Knotts said Wednesday night.

"I'm ready for a change," the 53-year-old Knotts told The Charlotte Observer.

His hiring is expected to be approved by the Lexington-Richland School District 5 board Monday night. Dutch Fork principal Gregg Morton confirmed that a candidate will be presented to the board but declined to reveal the name.

Knotts has a 296-60 career record at three Charlotte high schools.

"I was at Harding 10 years, West Charlotte 10 years and Independence 10 years," Knotts said. "I think it's a good time in my life for a change."

If approved, Knotts' salary will be $104,452. His deal also includes incentives for playoff performances. He will finish the school year in Charlotte before retiring from the North Carolina school system with a $3,000-a-month pension.

Sources close to the search said Knotts was the Dutch Fork search committee's top choice. He would replace Bill Kimrey, who resigned last month. Kimrey has been the Silver Foxes' only coach since the school opened in 1992, compiling a 110-106 record.

Knotts, who has already begun assembling his Dutch Fork coaching staff, is best known for helping Independence win a state-record 109 consecutive games between 2000 and 2007. He coached the Patriots all but one season during their streak. Knotts left Independence for an assistant coaching job at Duke in 2004 before returning to Independence the following season.

The Patriots won seven consecutive North Carolina Class 4A state championships. Knotts also coached West Charlotte High to Class 4A state final appearances in 1991 and '93 before leading the Lions to state championship in 1995.

He coached Independence to state championships in 2000, '01, '02, '03, '05 and '06. The Patriots lost the 2007 state championship game.

Knotts also coached Charlotte's Harding High to a state final appearance in 1987.

The Dutch Fork job is configured as a combined athletics director and head football coaching position. Morton said the school is considering splitting the job between two people.

"It's a possibility we are looking at in the future," Morton said. "Right now, the position is athletics director and football coach."

Knotts said meeting former USC quarterback Todd Ellis and former Carolina Panthers running back Stephen Davis, who both have children in the Dutch Fork district, influenced his decision.

"You know the future is bright in the area," Knotts said. "When they talked about football, you could see they wanted to change the football climate of Dutch Fork."

The Silver Foxes posted consecutive 2-9 seasons under Kimrey in 2008 and 2009.

"I didn't choose it based on the team," Knotts said. "I chose it on the area, based on where me and my family could settle down and live the rest of our lives."

Knotts said he interviewed at Spring Valley before the Vikings hired former USC and Clemson assistant Miles Aldridge as their coach last month. Knotts also considered a job in football-mad Valdosta, Ga.

"I've looked at a lot of places and talked to a lot of people," Knotts said. "I felt like this was the best situation."