Coaching Staff

Rob Purlee, Head Coach
Years at Knox: 2006 to present

Education
M.S., 2006, Sport Management, Western Illinois University
B.A., 2004, Monmouth College

Experience
Rob Purlee joined the Prairie Fire men's basketball coaching staff as an assistant in 2006. He was named the associate head coach in October 2007 and replaced Tim Heimann as the Prairie Fire head coach at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season. Purlee arrived at Knox after spending two seasons as an assistant football and basketball coach at Monmouth College. He also assumed the Knox men's golf head coaching duties in the summer of 2008.

With the Monmouth basketball team, Purlee implemented a strength and conditioning program and was responsible for scouting the opposition. He coached the perimeter players and handled some on-floor coaching duties. Purlee was the quarterbacks coach for the Fighting Scots football program, and coached the top-ranked passer in NCAA Division III in 2005. Monmouth won the 2005 Midwest Conference championship.

A 2004 Monmouth graduate, Purlee was a four-year starting quarterback and two-time team captain of the Fighting Scots football team. He was also a three-year starter and senior captain with the basketball team. Purlee earned his M.S. in sport management from Western Illinois University in 2006.

Contact Information
309-341-7193
jpurlee@knox.edu

Bobby Wheet
Years at Knox: 2008 to present

Education
B.A., 2007, Social Science, Central College

Experience
Bobby Wheet begins his second season as an assitant for the Prairie Fire men's basketball team.  Wheet originally came to Knox by way of Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY where he served as an assistant coach. Wheet was responsible for various functions of the Hartwick basketball program, including director of strength and conditioning program, organizing team practice schedules and recruitment within the basketball program.

Wheet, a 2007 graduate of Central College, has already begun to compile a wealth of coaching experience in his short career. He also served as a student assistant coach for one year at his alma mater, and served as a student assistant coach for football from December 2006 to May 2007. Wheet was also a 4 year member of the Central College football team, where he lettered in 2006.

Contact Information
309-341-7422
rwheet@knox.edu

John Baillie
Years at Knox: 2008 to present

Education
B.A., 2008, Photography, Knox College

Experience
John Baillie begins his second season as an assistant basketball coach at Knox. Baillie was a 4 year basketball letter winner while a student-athlete at Knox College and graduated in the Spring of 2008. Baillie was elected captain mid way through his senior season, as the example he set for the younger players and his positive attitude were so apparent that it was more than deserving to honor him as such. Baillie was also the recipient of the Harley Knosher Award in 2008, given to the player who is an exemplary member of the Knox basketball team. Coach Baillie looks to begin his coaching career as part of the inaugural staff of Head Coach Purlee, and looks to bring his positive, winning attitude to the 2008- 2009 Knox basketball team.

Contact Information
309-341-7198
jbaillie@knox.edu

Barry Swanson

Years at Knox: 2008 to present

Expierence

Barry Swanson begins his second season as an assistant for the Prairie Fire men's basketball team. Swanson spent his entire coaching career in Galesburg starting off coaching for two years at Lombard Junior High. In 1974 he became the sophomore coach at Galesburg High School. Swanson then served as the varsity head coach at Galesburg High School for twelve seasons. His teams won a total of 203 games and claimed 16 championship trophies. For the 1984-85 season Swanson was the head coach at Carl Sandburg Community College and his team finished with a record of 31-4 during that season.

Matt Swanson

Years at Knox: 2009-

Education

B.A., 2006, Communications, Middle Tennessee State University

Expierence

Matt Swanson joins the Knox basketball staff for the 2009-2010 season. Swanson is a native of the area having played four years of basketball at Galesburg High School, where he was a two year starter and a co-captain his senior season. Swanson would go on to play two seasons of basketball at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg, Illinois, where he was again a starter. Matt is the son of assistant coach Barry Swanson.