Feb. 2, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football program has hired Trent McKnight as an assistant coach, head coach Pat Sullivan announced on Thursday.

McKnight, a 2010 Samford graduate and former player and student assistant with the Bulldogs, will coach the team's tight ends and slot receivers.

"We're excited to have one of our own come back in Trent McKnight," Sullivan said. "He's going to coach our tight ends and slot receivers. He's been at Georgia Military, but he graduated from Samford, got married at Samford and worked here for us for three years. We are very excited about having Trent come back."

McKnight comes to Samford after working as the wide receivers coach at Georgia Military College in Milledgeville, Ga., last season. In addition to coaching the wide receivers, McKnight recruited the states of Alabama, Georgia and Florida for GMC.

Prior to working at Georgia Military, McKnight worked as a student assistant for the defense at Samford while working on his bachelor's degree from 2008 to 2010. McKnight worked with the safeties in 2008 and 2009, and the linebackers in 2010. He also helped out with the running backs during the spring of 2010.

During his previous stint with the Samford staff, McKnight was also responsible for the scout team offense and special teams. He also was in charge of film breakdown and self-scout analysis, and he assisted with scouting reports, playbooks and teaching tapes. McKnight also assisted with on-campus recruiting for the Bulldogs.

From January to November of 2008, McKnight coached the cornerbacks at Oak Mountain High School. In addition to coaching the cornerbacks, he also coached the kickoff coverage team and he assisted with game-planning, film breakdown and scouting reports.

McKnight served as a recruiting intern at the University of Alabama from December 2007 to January 2008. He assisted with the evaluation process for prospective student-athletes for the Crimson Tide.

McKnight earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and management from Samford in December 2010. He played on the Samford team as a safety, while also contributing on special teams in 2006 and 2007.

McKnight takes the position occupied last season by Travis Trickett, who was promoted last month to the position co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.