Jake Knight returned to his alma mater as an assistant track and field coach ahead of the 2024-25 year, specializing in the throwing events.
In his first year coaching with the Nighthawks in 2024-25, two of Knight's throwers earned NCAA DII Outdoor All-American honors. Laurenz Waldbauer was the National Runner-Up in the javelin, while also earned GNAC Men's Field Athlete of the Year honors and GNAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition. Destany Herbert earned Second Team All-American honors with a ninth-place finish in the shot put at the outdoor championships. Waldbauer, Herbert, and Emily Powers (javelin) were also each named All-Region by the USTFCCCA.
Knight graduated from NNU in December 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in communication. Following graduation, he continued to compete in the discus at the national level while coaching several high school and collegiate throwers to improved performances.
Knight is the current school record holder in the shot put (18.29m/60’0.25”) and discus (55.78m/183’). At the GNAC level, he is the conference record holder in the discus and is ranked second all-time in the shot put. He was the 2019 GNAC Champion in both the shot put and discus, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in both events. He placed fifth in the discus at the NCAA meet, earning All-American honors.
Prior to NNU, Knight played football at Boise State University from 2015 to 2017. He was a scholar-athlete every season and won the Hammer Award in 2016.
Knight spent his freshman year of college at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he was a member of the track & field team and an NCAA DI championships and SEC championships qualifier in 2015.
Knight has lived in Meridian since 2006. He graduated from Rocky Mountain High School where he was a three-sport athlete. Knight is an avid fly-fisherman and mountain bike rider, and works part-time during summers as a fly-fishing guide.
