Brian Knorr - Football Coach - University of Michigan Athletics

Brian Knorr

Title:
Assistant Special Teams

Brian Knorr is in his first season as an assistant special teams coach with U-M in 2026. Knorr is in his 35th year coaching at the collegiate level and has served in the roles of head coach, coordinator, co-coordinator and position coach during his career.

He spent the prior eight seasons (2018-25) at the Air Force Academy, his third stint in Colorado Springs. Knorr coached inside linebackers and was the assistant head coach for four seasons (2018-21) before he became defensive coordinator while working with the outside linebackers for his final four years (2022-25). The Falcons posted double-digit win seasons in 2019 (11), 2021 and 2022 (10) and also won nine games in 2023 while Knorr was on staff. The 2022 and 2023 defenses coordinated by Knorr were ranked No. 1 and No. 6 in total defense, respectively, and both ranked top-six in rushing defense and top-20 in passing defense.

A graduate of the Academy, Knorr began his coaching career as assistant offensive line coach, head junior varsity coach and as an administrative assistant to the head coach with the Falcons for three seasons (1992-94). He returned in 2005 to coach outside linebackers and safeties for two seasons, and in 2007, switched to coaching inside linebackers while being elevated to the role of assistant head coach.

Before his most recent stint with Air Force, Knorr served as special teams coordinator and coached the STUD position (defensive end/linebacker hybrid) for one season (2017) at Arizona, where he helped the Wildcat defense average 2.38 sacks per game (38th).

Prior to his time in Tuscon, Knorr was in Columbus, Ohio, as a special teams quality control assistant for the 2016 season. Knorr was the defensive coordinator at Indiana for two years (2014-15) and coached the defensive ends and outside linebackers during that time. The Hoosiers improved in scoring defense (decreased six points), rushing yards allowed (55.1), yards allowed per game (94.1), third down conversion rate (10.4 percent), sacks (three) and tackles for loss (13).

Knorr spent six seasons at Wake Forest (2008-13) in various roles. He spent his first three years on the offensive side of the ball (2008-11) as wide receivers coach. For his final three seasons with the Demon Deacons, Knorr worked with the defense, co-coordinating in 2011 before taking over the coordinator role in 2012-13. He coached inside linebackers for the first two seasons and outside linebackers in his final year. That 2013 season saw Wake Forest rank top-40 in points (24.1), rushing yards (143.2), passing yards (223) and total yards (366.2) per game.

Before his second stint at Air Force, Knorr spent 10 seasons at Ohio University. His first four years (1995-98) were spent leading the inside linebackers before he became defensive coordinator in 1999 and eventually took over as head coach from 2001-04. That appointment made Knorr the first Air Force Academy graduate to become a Division 1 head coach. Each season Knorr coordinated Ohio's defense, the Bobcats were top-five in the MAC in scoring, rushing and total defense. He coached five players to all-conference honors, including first team All-American punter Dave Zastudil. Zastudil is one of seven players who went on to have NFL careers after being coached by Knorr.

Knorr played quarterback at Air Force and was voted team captain as a senior. He won three varsity letters, helping his team reach three bowl game appearances. Following his graduation with a degree in management from the Academy, Knorr spent five years as a captain on active duty, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where he earned his M.B.A. from Dayton University in 1991. He began his coaching career after that stint of service.

Knorr and his wife, Julie, have a daughter, Katie, and twins Reagan and Brett.

THE KNORR FILE:
Hometown: Lenexa, Kansas
High School: S.M. Northwest
College: Air Force Academy (management, 1986), Dayton (M.B.A., 1991)
Wife: Julie
Children: Katie, twins Reagan and Brett

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Year	Team	Position
1992-94	Air Force	Assistant Offensive Line, Head Coach (J.V.) Administrative Assistant to the Head Coach
1995-98	Ohio	Inside Linebackers
1999-2000		Defensive Coordinator
2001-04		Head Coach
2005-06	Air Force	Outside Linebackers/Safeties
2007		Assistant Head Coach/Inside Linebacker
2008-10	Wake Forest	Wide Receivers
2011		Co-Defensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers
2012		Defensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers
2013		Defensive Coordinator, Outside Linebackers
2014-15	Indiana	Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Ends, Outside Linebackers
2016	Ohio State	Special Teams Quality Control
2017	Arizona	Special Teams Coordinator, Defensive Ends
2018-21	Air Force	Assistant Head Coach, Inside Linebackers
2022-25		Defensive Coordinator, Inside Linebackers
2026-present	Michigan	Assistant Special Teams