Coaching Staff

Chad Eisele, Head Coach
Years at Knox: 2006 to present

Education
M.S., 1997, Athletic Administration, Wayne State University
B.A., 1993, Political Science, Knox College

Experience
Chad Eisele became Director of Athletics at Knox College on May 8, 2006. Eisele is a native of Peoria, Illinois, and a 1993 graduate of Knox. He became the head football coach on November 10, 2009.

Eisele competed in football, baseball, and track while at Knox. A defensive back for the Prairie Fire, Eisele was an All-Midwest Conference selection three times. In 1989, he tied the school record of three pass interceptions in a single game.

Upon graduation, Eisele served as defensive secondary coach at Knox for one season. From 1994-97, he was defensive secondary coach and defensive coordinator at Wayne State University. He was an assistant football coach at Lake Forest College from 1997-2000. He took over as head football coach at Lake Forest from 2000-05, compiling a record of 31-20. In 2002, Eisele led Lake Forest to the NCAA Division III playoffs and was named Midwest Conference Coach of the Year. He also served as head coach of the Lake Forest men's tennis team and won a conference championship in 1999. Eisele was the head football coach at Minnesota State-Moorhead for one season prior to returning to Knox.

Contact Information
309-341-7280
ceisele@knox.edu

Andy Gibbons, Defensive Coordinator

Education
M.S., 1994, Sport Management, Western Illinois University
B.A., 1990, Culver-Stockton College

Experience

Gibbons has coached at Knox since 1991, when he was hired as an assistant coach. He took over defensive coordinator duties in 1993 and was named head coach in 1996. Under Gibbons, Knox has had 115 All-Conference selections and nine All-American picks. The program has also set 46 school records during his tenure.

In 1998, Gibbons led the Prairie Fire to a fourth place finish in the Midwest Conference. His 1998 team featured the top-ranked defense in the league. Knox finished second in the old MWC South Division in 1997 and added a third-place divisional finish in 1996.

Gibbons, a 1990 graduate of Culver-Stockton College, earned a master's degree in sports management from Western Illinois University. A starter during his sophomore and junior seasons at Culver-Stockton, Gibbons was elected a team captain, although an ankle injury prevented him from playing during his senior season. Gibbons then joined the Culver-Stockton staff, where he served as a graduate assistant coach for one year before joining Knox.

Contact Information
309-341-7379
agibbons@knox.edu

Kevin Krausz, Offensive Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach
Years at Knox: 2006 to present

Education
B.A., 2003, Knox College

Experience
Kevin Krausz has served as the offensive coordinator at Knox since 2006. Upon his arrival, he helped implement the spread option offense. Krausz will also coach the wide receivers in 2007.

A 2003 Knox graduate, Krausz originally arrived at Knox after beginning his career as a quarterback at North Central College. He played defensive back for the Prairie Fire for two seasons. After graduation, Krausz was an assistant coach at Knox working mainly with the safeties.

In 2004, he went to MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., where he mentored the running backs and receivers for one year each. During those two years, Krausz coached a First Team All-IBFC running back and receiver. Krausz returned to Knox in January 2006 to assume the offensive coordinator duties.

Contact Information
309-341-7282
kkrausz@knox.edu

Jami Isaacson, Special Teams Coordinator & Secondary Coach
Years at Knox: 2000 to present

Education
B.A., 1992, History, Knox College

Experience
Jami Isaacson joined the Prairie Fire football coaching staff in 2001. He has also been the head baseball coach at Knox since the 2000 season. His 2008 Prairie Fire baseball team won the Midwest Conference and became the first Knox baseball team to qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships.

Isaacson earned his history degree from Knox College in 1992. He brings a wealth of experience to the Knox program, having spent five years as both an offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator at conference rival Illinois College. Isaacson was also the head baseball coach at Illinois College, winning the Midwest Conference in 1995.

Contact Information
309-341-7456
jwisaacs@knox.edu

Dan Zierfuss, Offensive Line Coach
Years at Knox: 2007 to present

Education
M.S., 2009, Sport Management, Western Illinois University
B.A., 2005, Psychology, Beloit College

Experience
Dan Zierfuss was named the co-head coach for indoor and outdoor track and field at Knox College in the summer of 2007. He also serves as an assistant coach with the Prairie Fire football team.

Zierfuss, who will primarily focus on coaching the throwing events, was a graduate assistant coach for the track and field teams at Carroll College in 2006-07. He coached the school record holders in both the men's and women's hammer throw at Carroll. In 2005-06, Zierfuss served as an assistant football and assistant track and field coach at Beloit College.

Zierfuss was a captain for both the football and track and field teams at Beloit College. He was named to the academic All-Midwest Conference team from 2002-05. Zierfuss earned his degree in Psychology from Beloit in 2005 and has since earned his M.S. in Sport Management from Western Illinois University.

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

Bill Allison, Defensive Tackles Coach
Years at Knox: 1996 to present

Education
M.S., Western Illinois University
B.A., 1972, Knox College

Experience
Bill Allison, a 1972 Knox graduate, joined the Prairie Fire coaching staff in 1996 after serving 21 years in the Galesburg High School football program, where he was head coach for four years. After coaching the running backs for several years, Allison will coach the defensive line beginning in 2008.

Dave McKillip, Defensive Ends Coach
Years at Knox: 2004 to present

Education
B.A., 1974, Economics, Knox College

Experience
Dave McKillip joined the Prairie Fire coaching staff as the linebackers coach in 2004. The 1974 graduate of Knox majored in economics while lettering three years in football and four years in wrestling. McKillip was a two-time All-Midwest Conference selection at linebacker. He was voted the team's Most Valuable Defensive Player and was the recipient of the Tom Dean Award during his senior season.

McKillip has coached football at various levels including at the division level of the Army and all grade school levels. Dave, his wife Dia and granddaughter Kalia live in Galesburg. Dave is a Senior Logistics Planner for the Army at the Rock Island, IL arsenal.

Aaron Willits, Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Years at Knox: 2008 to present

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

Experience
Aaron Willits, a native of Aledo, Illinois, and a 2008 graduate of Knox College joined the Prairie Fire coaching staff in 2008. In his first season coaching at Knox he assisted with the offensive line but beginning in 2009 he will coach running backs - the position he lettered at for four years during his Knox College Prairie Fire career.

During his career at Knox, Willits was twice selected football All-Conference - Second Team in 2007-2008. He was elected and served as team captain his senior season and was voted most valuable offensive player at the end of his senior season by his team.

Before joining the Prairie Fire coaching staff Willits coached running backs part time at his high school alma mater, Aledo High School, for three seasons. Along with his coaching duties Willits will serve as the football recruiting coordinator.

Team Managers

		Samantha McDavid