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MHS football coach Knock steps down

Marshalltown High School head football coach Don Knock tendered his resignation on Monday, one month after being found not guilty of simple assault against a student.

The Bobcat varsity football program went 3-6 and 2-7 in Knock’s two seasons as head coach. He informed the team of his decision to step down during a short meeting on Monday morning.

Knock, 62, came to Marshalltown with 24 years of experience as a high school football coach in Iowa, in addition to coaching stints with Grand View University, South Dakota, Nebraska-Omaha and most notably on Dan McCarney’s staff at Iowa State.

He inherited a Bobcat football program that had posted back-to-back 1-8 seasons on the gridiron, but any progress made will have to continue without him.

“We appreciate his impact on the district and his impact on many students,” said MHS communications director Andrew Potter. “We’re looking now [to fill the coaching void] and hope to find somebody soon to get someone in place for the summer programs.

“We wish him well.”

Knock also was a full-time physical education instructor at the high school in his two years with MHS. He resigned that position as well, according to Potter.

In February, Knock was arrested and charged after he was accused of pushing and grabbing a 14-year-old freshman at school during one of his physical education classes. The alleged assault occurred on Jan. 3 at the high school when a student claimed there was “unwanted contact” when Knock allegedly pushed and grabbed him. Knock was found not guilty by a Marshall County Associate Court jury as ruled on April 21.

The Marshalltown High School football season begins on Aug. 25 with a home game against Ames.

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