Portage Central High School

Tim Knox, the 2016 Football Scoop Operations Director of the Year, is an accomplished athletics administrator with nearly 30 years of experience across two Division I (FBS) athletic departments. Prior to transitioning into leadership, Knox served the Illinois athletics program for nearly a decade in football operations. From 2012–2016 he was the Director of Football Operations, and from 2016–2021 he held the position of Assistant Director of Athletics, Football Operations. In those roles, he managed all facets of team travel, maintained a multi-million dollar operating budget, coordinated bowl game logistics for two postseason trips (2015, 2019), and played a key role in the design and project management of the $79.9 million Smith Football Center. Before joining Illinois, Knox spent 15 seasons at Western Michigan, holding positions that included Coordinator of Football Operations, Assistant Football Coach, and Director of Football Operations. His wide-ranging responsibilities included travel coordination, recruiting operations, summer camp organization, NCAA compliance oversight, and staff supervision. He coordinated official and unofficial visits, managed on- and off-campus housing logistics, and oversaw graduate assistants. A 1997 graduate of Hiram College, Knox lettered four years at cornerback, earning All–Ohio Athletic Conference honors in multiple seasons and serving as team captain. He also lettered in baseball and worked as a student assistant in men’s basketball. He later earned a Master of Arts in Sports Administration from Western Michigan University in 1999. A native of Bainbridge Township, Ohio, Knox graduated from Kenston High School in 1993, earning eight varsity letters across football, basketball, and baseball. His father, Al Knox, retired after 48 years of teaching in Northeast Ohio, having taught notable students including Halle Berry and LeBron James. Tim is married Danielle (LeClear) and the couple have four children.