 Knox before a Redblacks game in 2021. | |
| Born: | June 12, 1969[1] Toronto, Ontario[2] |
|---|---|
| Career information | |
| CFL status | National |
| Position(s) | Defensive backs coach |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| University | Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks |
| CFL Draft | 1992 / Round: 6 / Pick: 47 |
| Drafted by | Calgary Stampeders |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 2006–2012 | McMaster Marauders (defensive coordinator) |
| 2013 | Toronto Varsity Blues (defensive coordinator) |
| 2014 | McMaster Marauders (defensive coordinator) |
| 2015 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers (linebackers coach) |
| 2016–2018 | McMaster Marauders (head coach) (defensive coordinator) |
| 2019 | Alberta Golden Bears (defensive coordinator) |
| 2020–2021 | Ottawa Redblacks (defensive back coach) |
| As player | |
| 1992–1998 | Calgary Stampeders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| CFL All-Star | 1994 |
| CFL West All-Star | 1994 |
Greg Knox (born June 12, 1969) is a former Canadian football coach who most recently served as the defensive backs coach for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played professionally as a defensive back with the Calgary Stampeders for seven years where he won two Grey Cup championships (in 1992 and 1998). He is also a two-time Vanier Cup champion after winning as a player with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in 1991 and then as a defensive coordinator with the McMaster Marauders in 2011. He was formerly the head coach of the Marauders from 2016 to 2018.
Knox attended Wilfrid Laurier University where he played defensive back for the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. He finished his CIAU football career with a Vanier Cup championship after winning in 1991.[3]
Knox was drafted in the sixth round, 47th overall, in the 1992 CFL Draft by the Calgary Stampeders.[4] He played in 98 regular season games where he recorded 210 tackles, 22 interceptions, four sacks, and eight fumble recoveries.[5] He won a Grey Cup championship in his rookie year in 1992 and won again in his final year in 1998.[5] He was also named a 1994 CFL All-Star at safety after recording 10 interceptions, 57 defensive tackles, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries that year.[5]
On March 22, 2006, it was announced that Knox had been hired as the defensive coordinator for the McMaster Marauders.[6] The Marauders qualified for the playoffs in every season he was with the team, until 2012.[3] The Marauders won the program's first Vanier Cup title in 2011 with Knox guiding the defense, leading to him winning his first championship as a coach.[3]
In 2013, Knox joined the Toronto Varsity Blues football program as their defensive coordinator.[7][8]
Knox returned to McMaster in 2014 where the team appeared in the 50th Vanier Cup, but lost to the Montreal Carabins.[8]
It was announced on February 19, 2015, that Knox had joined the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the team's linebackers coach.[9] He was named the defensive backs coach for the 2016 season, but he resigned in May just prior to the start of the Blue Bombers' season to take the Head Coaching position at McMaster.[10]
After Stefan Ptaszek left the Marauders to join the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Knox was named the Marauders' interim head coach.[3][10] After a 6–2 record in 2016, the interim tag was removed and Knox was named the full-time head coach.[3] In his third year, in 2018, Knox was suspended following an interaction with a game official.[11] After a review by the university's human resources department, Knox was fired on October 22, 2018, having coached only five games that year.[11]
On February 13, 2019, Knox was named the defensive coordinator for the Alberta Golden Bears.[12] That year, the Golden Bears finished with a non-losing record for the first time since 2009 and qualified for the playoffs.
On January 17, 2020, Knox was announced as the defensive backs coach for the Ottawa Redblacks.[13] With the 2020 CFL season cancelled, he spent one season with the Redblacks in 2021. It was announced on April 1, 2022, that Knox had resigned from the Redblacks to take a position outside of football.[14]