Kenneth B. Knox (September 13, 1920 – February 24, 1970) was an American football and track coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at Southeast Missouri State College—now known as Southeast Missouri State University—from 1952 to 1967, compiling a record of 88–59–4. Knox also coached track at Southeast Missouri State and was the school's athletic director until his death in early 1970.

Kenneth Knox
Biographical details
Born(1920-09-13)September 13, 1920
Brazeau, Missouri, U.S.
DiedFebruary 24, 1970(1970-02-24) (aged 49)
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
Playing career
Football
1946Southeast Missouri State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1948–1951Sikeston HS (MO)
1952–1967Southeast Missouri State
Track
1952–?Southeast Missouri State
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
?–1970Southeast Missouri State
Head coaching record
Overall88–59–4 (college football)
35–0–3 (high school football)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Football
6 MIAA (1955, 1957–1959, 1962, 1967)

Knox was born in Brazeau, Missouri and attended high school in Perryville, Missouri. He served in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander before his discharge. Knox played college football at Southeast Missouri State, where was a member of the Emmett Stuber's undefeated 1946 team and graduated in 1948. He began his coaching career in 1948 at Sikeston High School in Sikeston, Missouri, where he led his football teams to a record of 35–0–3 in four seasons. He was hired as head coach in football and track at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State, in 1952.[1]

Knox died on February 24, 1970, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, following a long illness.[2]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Southeast Missouri State Indians (Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1952–1967)
1952 Southeast Missouri State 4–4 2–3 4th
1953 Southeast Missouri State 4–3–2 1–2–2 5th
1954 Southeast Missouri State 7–2 4–1 2nd
1955 Southeast Missouri State 9–0 5–0 1st
1956 Southeast Missouri State 2–7 0–5 6th
1957 Southeast Missouri State 6–2–1 4–0–1 1st
1958 Southeast Missouri State 7–1–1 5–0 1st
1959 Southeast Missouri State 7–2 5–0 1st
1960 Southeast Missouri State 6–4 4–1 2nd
1961 Southeast Missouri State 5–5 3–2 T–2nd
1962 Southeast Missouri State 7–3 5–0 1st
1963 Southeast Missouri State 4–6 2–3 T–3rd
1964 Southeast Missouri State 5–5 4–1 2nd
1965 Southeast Missouri State 2–8 2–3 4th
1966 Southeast Missouri State 5–5 4–1 2nd
1967 Southeast Missouri State 8–2 5–0 1st
Southeast Missouri State: 88–59–4 55–22–3
Total: 88–59–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

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  1. ^ "Knox Named Cape State Grid Coach". The Daily Standard. Sikeston, Missouri. Associated Press. March 21, 1952. p. 1. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .
  2. ^ "Kenneth Knox, Coach, Dies in Cape". The Daily Standard. Sikeston, Missouri. February 24, 1970. p. 10. Retrieved February 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com  .