Travis Knight enters his 11th season as an assistant football coach for the Wingate Bulldogs. The 2020 season is his 10th year as the team’s defensive line coach. In addition, Knight is Wingate’s video coordinator and the team’s liaison to the Football Alumni Association.
In 2019, Knight helped defensive lineman Jordon Anderson make first team All-SAC. Defensive end Cal Hanford claimed a spot on the All-SAC second team. Wingate’s defense was second in four statistical categories: rushing defense (111.1), scoring defense (21.9), team sacks (3.08) and fewest first downs allowed (198).
Defensive end Cardell Rawlings become a consensus All-American and the SAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. Rawlings led the SAC in sacks and ranked fourth nationally. Defensive lineman Auntrell Mack joined Rawlings on the All-SAC teams. Wingate led the SAC in rushing defense (123.6), team sacks (3.54) and team tackles for loss (8.4).
In 2017, WU defensive lineman Auntrell Mack earned first team All-SAC laurels. Cardell Rawlings gave Bulldog fans a glimpse of his future by making second team All-SAC. The SAC champion Bulldogs led the league in fourth down defense (.273). Wingate held Carson-Newman to three second-half points in a big league win.
The 2016 campaign saw defensive end Ray Edwards become the first athlete in program history to earn South Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year laurels. Defensive linemen Andre Foulks and Josh Mills joined Edwards on the All-SAC teams. Edwards and Foulks led the league in forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, respectively. Knight coached Chris Boykins, who earned a spot on the Academic All-Super Region 2 team named by CoSIDA. Overall, the WU defense led the SAC in nine statistical categories.
In 2015, Knight mentored Andre Foulks as the junior earned a spot on the first team All-SAC squad. Foulks had 11 tackles at number 16 Lenoir-Rhyne, allowing the Bulldogs to snap the Bears’ 22-game SAC winning streak. Defensive end Jordan Smith was named Academic All-Super Region 2 by CoSIDA.
Wingate defensive lineman Nick Napolitano achieved a unique double-double by earning a spot on the Associated Press Little All-America second team and the CoSIDA Academic All-America® second team following the 2014 season. A two-time team captain, Napolitano was a three-time All-SAC pick.
In 2013, Bulldog defensive lineman Auntrell Mack led the NCAA in fumbles recovered with four. In 2012, Knight coached a starting defensive line which recorded 162 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, 12.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. Defensive linemen Napolitano and Malcolm Ricks were honored at the end of the season as All-SAC second team selections.
Knight worked with Wingate’s linebackers during the 2010 season. Prior to joining head coach Joe Reich’s staff, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Sun Valley High School for head coach Scott Stein. In 2008, Knight worked with the Sun Valley linebackers. In 2009, he was the defensive line coach. The Spartans made the N.C. 4A play-offs both seasons. Knight assisted with play calling from the press box. In addition, he collaborated with the defensive coordinator to determine defensive strategies for each game.
During his playing days, Knight was a two-year letter winner for the Bulldogs. Knight was named Wingate’s defensive MVP in 2005. He led the team in tackles (89) the same season. In addition, Knight shared the South Atlantic Conference statistical championship with three fumble recoveries. Knight played two years at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, Minn. before joining the Bulldogs in the fall of 2004. He was All-Conference and team defensive MVP two years each. Knight was All-Region and All-State one year each.
Knight earned a B.S. degree in Parks and Recreation Administration from Wingate University in December, 2006. Most recently, he spent two years as the ISS Coordinator at Sun Valley High School. Knight is a graduate of Richmond Senior High in Rockingham.
Coach Knight’s recruiting areas include: North Carolina counties of Anson, Bladen, Carteret, Craven, Cumberland, Duplin, Edgecombe, Greene, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, Onslow, Pamlico, Pitt, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne, Wilson; also, the South Carolina counties of Chesterfield, Marlboro and Darlington.
