McMurry University Athletics announced the hiring of Cody Knight as its head track & field coach, for men and women, in July 2018. Knight brought seven years of NCAA Division I experience to the War Hawks’ prominent NCAA III program. He's now entering his fifth season in 2023.
Knight is just the third head coach since the sport was reintroduced to the campus in 1999.
Knight has led the War Hawks to seven American Southwest Conference championships since his hire - the men's program in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023 and the women's program in 2021, 2022, and 2023. At the national level, McMurry has had 23 indoor and outdoor qualifiers under Knight's direction.
McMurry has also had three athletes set ASC meet records, including Kelby Tidwell (women's heptathlon), Shelby McWilliams (3000 steeplechase), Savannah Freeman (women's javelin) and Jayden Sloan (men's 400). Several school records in indoor and outdoor competition have been set and re-set in his tenure.
On staff at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi from 2012-18, he began as a volunteer coach in 2012 and was hired on staff later that same year. Knight served as the Islanders’ interim head coach in 2017 and was then elevated to the program’s 1st Assistant position. During his long tenure, Knight has a wide variety of specialty experience, including sprints, middle distance, distance and jumps. He also has extensive background in meet management, working with alumni and recruiting.
While at TAMUCC, Knight-coached athletes produced some impressive numbers. Among those accomplishments were: 14 Texas A&M-CC and two Missouri Valley College school records; a total of 136 Islanders recorded top-10 performers; 7 Southland Conference event champions were crowned (including one Southland Conference “Freshman of the Year”); 10 NCAA I West Region championship qualifiers, and; 23 All-Southland Conference performers.
Knight began his coaching career as an assistant for both cross country and track & field at his alma mater, Missouri Valley College (2007-11).
Knight holds United States Track & field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) certifications in track & field coaching, strength and conditioning, and meet management. He holds USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification, as well as Officials Certification.
“I am honored for the opportunity to coach and lead McMurry’s track & field program,” Knight said. “This is a program that has had a lot of success in the conference and on the national level, as well. Our goals will be to not only build on such tradition, but to also continue developing skills that our scholar-athletes will carry with them as they become champions for life.”
Knight is a native of Lebanon, Missouri. Knight graduated from Missouri Valley College in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in health and fitness/sports management. He and his wife Stephanie have two children, Kayson and Kynlee.
WATCH: "A Walk With The War Hawks" - Cody Knight
