Wesley interim athletic director Tracey Short announced on Tuesday the promotion of associate head coach and offensive coordinator Chip Knapp to the head football coach position following the passing of Mike Drass.
Knapp has been at Wesley since 1989. He spent two seasons as a defensive assistant before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1991. He has built Wesley into one of the most prolific offenses in Division III football, leading numerous All-Americans, including 2015 Gagliardi Trophy winner and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Joe Callahan.
"The Wesley College athletic department is excited to promote veteran coach Chip Knapp as our fourth head coach since joining NCAA Division III," Short said. "His work as the associate head coach and his role as the offensive coordinator has proven valuable in Wesley's success over the past 29 years. I look forward to working with Chip and watching the football team flourish with him as head coach."
In Wesley's current 13-year streak of NCAA playoff appearances, Knapp has led Wesley to a top 50 offense and scoring offense 11 times, including the top offense in Division III in 2015.
In his career at Wesley, Knapp has coached players to 48 All-American honors, 99 All-Region honors and 122 all-conference awards. He led Callahan, Justin Sottilare and Chris Warrick to D3football.com Regional Player of the Year honors and Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year accolades as well as Callahan, Sottilare, Warrick, Shane McSweeny, Jason Visconti and E.J. Lee to conference player of the year laurels.
"It is an absolute honor to be named the Wesley College head football coach and I am grateful to president Robert Clark and our interim athletic director Tracey Short for this incredible opportunity," said Knapp. "Wesley has been my home for the last 29 years and we will do our part to continue the tradition of excellence of developing student-athletes on- and off-field that coach Mike Drass established. We want to give our players an experience that will enhance their relationships, academic progress and athletic success."
Knapp started his coaching career at Kansas in 1987 and spent two seasons as an offensive assistant for the Jayhawks.
Knapp attended Cornell in Ithaca, N.Y., where he was a two-year letter winner at quarterback for the Big Red. Knapp received a bachelor's degree in economics from Cornell in 1987.