Colgate University Athletics

Ryan Knowles begins his third season as the defensive line coach.  He came to Colgate after one season at the University of Idaho.

Last season, Knowles coached third team All-America defensive tackle Pat Nolan, who led the Patriot League in quarterback sacks.  Nolan and defensive end Ryan Keller were named to the all-league team in 2007.

While at Idaho, Knowles was a defensive graduate assistant coaching on the defensive line. Prior to coaching at Idaho, he coached at several high schools in Kent and Spokane, Washington.  He worked as both an offensive and defensive line coach.

Knowles was a four-year starter for the Vandal’s at defensive end and earned second team all-Big West Conference in 2000.  He was also awarded the Vandal Pride Player award in 1997, for hard work and dedication.  He played in the 1998 Humanitarian Bowl.

Knowles, 30 years old, was born August 31, 1978 in Sandpoint, Idaho.  He graduated from Idaho in 2002 with a degree in secondary education.  While on the Idaho staff he worked on a Master’s in Education Leadership.

He and his wife, Megan, are parents of a daughter, Aubrey (six months).