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Knott takes over Edgerton program

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Jason Knott

EDGERTON — Jason Knott’s lifelong dream was to be head coach of a boys basketball team.

Now, that dream has become a reality.

Knott has been named Edgerton High School’s boys basketball coach, replacing Mark Wanless—who retired after 18 successful seasons.

“Those are big shoes to fill, but I feel like I’m ready for the challenge,” Knott said of taking over for Wanless. “Mark has given his heart and soul to that program for 18 years, and I feel remorse about the fact that he was forced to retire because of the state budget issues. He had no intention of retiring yet.

“But I think it’s the right time and the right place for me, and Mark has been wonderful in this whole process.”

Knott has been at Edgerton High for 11 years and soon will have the rare status of modern times in being a head coach in three sports.

He is the school’s girls head volleyball coach and the boys head track and field coach, and also has been the assistant coach to Mike Schmidt for girls basketball. Knott’s volleyball program has won four conference championships in the last five years and has reached the WIAA sectional semifinals the last two years.

With a 1-year-old daughter, and he and his wife expecting their second child in October, Knott knows he has taken on a lot in adding a third head coaching position.

“I don’t anticipate being the head coach of three sports as a long-term thing,” Knott said. “Of the 36 athletic seasons that have taken place since I’ve been here at Edgerton, I’ve coached in 32 of them.

“But being a boys basketball coach was a longstanding dream of mine, and when this opportunity came up, I jumped at the chance to apply.”

Although Knott said he will continue to stress Wanless’ coaching philosophies in regard to playing hard-nosed defense and being fundamentally sound, he will tweak the offense.

“I want us to be an attacking offense, which means we will be running something similar to the Memphis dribble-drive offense, which I learned a lot about as Mike’s assistant,” Knott said.

“The best thing about this whole process has been the support I’ve gotten from both Mark and Mike.

“I can’t wait to get started, and I’ve already got the boys who are coming back signed up for a couple of tournaments in June.”