Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 3, 2008 10:32:43 GMT -5
Tom Knotts
Head coach, Charlotte Independence High School
Q&A with Tom Knotts
Posted: Friday, Nov. 28, 2008
After his team beat Anson Senior 30-27 in the 2000 N.C. 4A state semifinals, then first-year Independence High coach Tom Knotts told the Observer that he wanted to make winning a habit in Mint Hill.
He's more than accomplished his goal.
Knotts' team won the state title in 2000 and every year after until the 2007 final, which Independence lost to New Bern. In between, Independence won 109 straight games and won national acclaim. Knotts, who has one state title at West Charlotte (1995) and six at Independence, cemented his status among the state's all-time elite.
“I've seen (legendary Summerville, S.C., coach) John McKissick at his best and Tom Knotts is the best coach in the Carolinas,” said Weddington's Phil Williams, 59, who has coached for 39 years. “No doubt about it. They run any kind of offense he wants to run and feature any quarterback, running back or wide receiver he wants to feature. His record speaks for itself.”
Knotts, who has often been a controversial figure in his 28-year coaching career, recently spoke with the Observer's Langston Wertz Jr. about playing Butler in tonight's N.C. 4AA quarterfinal; about where he might like to coach next; and about his sometimes rocky relationship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials. His answers are edited for brevity.
Q. What bugs you the most about the Independence you see today?
“We used to be a top-notch school and now we have to give great effort every single day in everything, athletics, academics. Our teachers are working at it. They're busting their humps and staying after school until 4 or 5 o'clock. It's incredible what the teachers at Independence are doing. I don't think it should have to be that way.”
Q. Your feeling about the current playoff system?
“We've got to cut a week out and do something else about seeding, maybe an impartial panel of five or six people to seed the teams. If we need a power rating, do one. I don't care about playing Butler in the third round (Friday) but us and Butler have to be (in the semifinals).
“I haven't seen East Forsyth (which plays Richmond Senior in Friday's other west quarterfinal) and nothing against them, but it's not fair to the kids who really have earned the right to play a better opponent every week.”
Q. So you're not a fan of this subdivided playoff?
“I think that's stupid and dumb. That waters it down. There's been a year or two that smaller 4A schools could've beaten us or at least played us to a great game. Let's get one champion. We really need to go to 5A or 6A. We need to be like South Carolina and have a Big 16 and divide everybody else. South Carolina has the right idea about football.”
Q. Would you coach in South Carolina one day?
“We are living close to the border and when I get my 30 (years) in, my options will be open.
“I've got a beach house to pay for and I've got to put my kid through college. But I don't really want to move. I love Charlotte. Charlotte's my home. I'd coach at Fort Mill, one of the Rock Hills. I don't like driving. I wouldn't mind coaching at Myers Park..”
Q. Quarterback Anthony Carrothers will be a senior next year. Will you be back to coach him?
“I would like to stay with Anthony. He's carrying our team. He's a competitor and I think he's going to grow up even more in the next year. Since I got to where I enjoy him this year, he'll be the thing that keeps me coming back.”
Q. After you came back from Duke in the spring of 2005, how close did you get to taking the Hopewell job?
“Real close. But I didn't think their administration's leadership was strong. They had a great booster club and a great draw of kids. I knew my class schedule. I could've won there. Oh yeah.
“And I'm going to win big somewhere else eventually if they don't start treating Indy better. They had no business taking (former principal) Nancy Bartles out of Independence (and into an area superintendent role) with the issues they knew we were facing. She had things rolling and was just finishing up her second year.”
Q. A lot of people feel that you're not well-liked by CMS “downtown” because of statements like that.
“I'm not aware of that. I sat with (Supt. Peter) Gorman at a high school game or two and talked to him at the Y. I don't see that I clash with him. I'm not hurtful, but I say what's on my mind and what I believe to be true.
“It irritates me that they bring in a man from California who has all the credentials. It's like a pro player going to be a high school coach. That doesn't make a great coach, just because you played in the pros. The fact you have all these education credentials doesn't make you a great superintendent.
“What our system needs is somebody who knows our system and our schools. To let West Charlotte fall apart was a sin in my book. To let Independence fall apart is a sin. They have to give principals more autonomy to run their own schools and if they can't get the job done, get rid of them. Just like a football coach.”
Q. This state title run seems more important than the others. Why?
“Because of how Charlotte-Meck treated me and us in the spring (with a four-month probe into eligibility that didn't turn up concrete evidence of wrongdoing). We lost players. I don't care what anyone says. We had dumb rulings against us.
“They virtually destroyed our offseason. No one thought I'd be back. I never had a worry in the world. I knew nothing was going on. If someone wants their kid to play for me, that's up to his family as long as they do it legit, I've got no problem. Same at Butler. If someone wants to play at Butler and does it legit, I don't have a problem. But I feel this (state run) is personal. I am very motivated about this one.”
Head coach, Charlotte Independence High School
Q&A with Tom Knotts
Posted: Friday, Nov. 28, 2008
After his team beat Anson Senior 30-27 in the 2000 N.C. 4A state semifinals, then first-year Independence High coach Tom Knotts told the Observer that he wanted to make winning a habit in Mint Hill.
He's more than accomplished his goal.
Knotts' team won the state title in 2000 and every year after until the 2007 final, which Independence lost to New Bern. In between, Independence won 109 straight games and won national acclaim. Knotts, who has one state title at West Charlotte (1995) and six at Independence, cemented his status among the state's all-time elite.
“I've seen (legendary Summerville, S.C., coach) John McKissick at his best and Tom Knotts is the best coach in the Carolinas,” said Weddington's Phil Williams, 59, who has coached for 39 years. “No doubt about it. They run any kind of offense he wants to run and feature any quarterback, running back or wide receiver he wants to feature. His record speaks for itself.”
Knotts, who has often been a controversial figure in his 28-year coaching career, recently spoke with the Observer's Langston Wertz Jr. about playing Butler in tonight's N.C. 4AA quarterfinal; about where he might like to coach next; and about his sometimes rocky relationship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools officials. His answers are edited for brevity.
Q. What bugs you the most about the Independence you see today?
“We used to be a top-notch school and now we have to give great effort every single day in everything, athletics, academics. Our teachers are working at it. They're busting their humps and staying after school until 4 or 5 o'clock. It's incredible what the teachers at Independence are doing. I don't think it should have to be that way.”
Q. Your feeling about the current playoff system?
“We've got to cut a week out and do something else about seeding, maybe an impartial panel of five or six people to seed the teams. If we need a power rating, do one. I don't care about playing Butler in the third round (Friday) but us and Butler have to be (in the semifinals).
“I haven't seen East Forsyth (which plays Richmond Senior in Friday's other west quarterfinal) and nothing against them, but it's not fair to the kids who really have earned the right to play a better opponent every week.”
Q. So you're not a fan of this subdivided playoff?
“I think that's stupid and dumb. That waters it down. There's been a year or two that smaller 4A schools could've beaten us or at least played us to a great game. Let's get one champion. We really need to go to 5A or 6A. We need to be like South Carolina and have a Big 16 and divide everybody else. South Carolina has the right idea about football.”
Q. Would you coach in South Carolina one day?
“We are living close to the border and when I get my 30 (years) in, my options will be open.
“I've got a beach house to pay for and I've got to put my kid through college. But I don't really want to move. I love Charlotte. Charlotte's my home. I'd coach at Fort Mill, one of the Rock Hills. I don't like driving. I wouldn't mind coaching at Myers Park..”
Q. Quarterback Anthony Carrothers will be a senior next year. Will you be back to coach him?
“I would like to stay with Anthony. He's carrying our team. He's a competitor and I think he's going to grow up even more in the next year. Since I got to where I enjoy him this year, he'll be the thing that keeps me coming back.”
Q. After you came back from Duke in the spring of 2005, how close did you get to taking the Hopewell job?
“Real close. But I didn't think their administration's leadership was strong. They had a great booster club and a great draw of kids. I knew my class schedule. I could've won there. Oh yeah.
“And I'm going to win big somewhere else eventually if they don't start treating Indy better. They had no business taking (former principal) Nancy Bartles out of Independence (and into an area superintendent role) with the issues they knew we were facing. She had things rolling and was just finishing up her second year.”
Q. A lot of people feel that you're not well-liked by CMS “downtown” because of statements like that.
“I'm not aware of that. I sat with (Supt. Peter) Gorman at a high school game or two and talked to him at the Y. I don't see that I clash with him. I'm not hurtful, but I say what's on my mind and what I believe to be true.
“It irritates me that they bring in a man from California who has all the credentials. It's like a pro player going to be a high school coach. That doesn't make a great coach, just because you played in the pros. The fact you have all these education credentials doesn't make you a great superintendent.
“What our system needs is somebody who knows our system and our schools. To let West Charlotte fall apart was a sin in my book. To let Independence fall apart is a sin. They have to give principals more autonomy to run their own schools and if they can't get the job done, get rid of them. Just like a football coach.”
Q. This state title run seems more important than the others. Why?
“Because of how Charlotte-Meck treated me and us in the spring (with a four-month probe into eligibility that didn't turn up concrete evidence of wrongdoing). We lost players. I don't care what anyone says. We had dumb rulings against us.
“They virtually destroyed our offseason. No one thought I'd be back. I never had a worry in the world. I knew nothing was going on. If someone wants their kid to play for me, that's up to his family as long as they do it legit, I've got no problem. Same at Butler. If someone wants to play at Butler and does it legit, I don't have a problem. But I feel this (state run) is personal. I am very motivated about this one.”
