> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Knight takes the reins of his own football program in Dracut - URL: https://www.nh-highschoolsports.com/knight-takes-the-reins-of-his-own-football-program-in-dracut/ - Published: 2024-08-25T18:30:52.000Z - Updated: 2024-08-25T18:30:52.000Z - Description: Dracut High School may be south of the New Hampshire border, but the Massachusetts public school is most definitely taking a Granite State approach in its attempt at returning a storied football program to glory. Enter 28-year-old Trevor Knight, who was officially named head coach of the Dracut Midd - Author: George Scione - Tags: Fall Sports, coaching, Division I, Dracut, football, Nashua South, NH High School Sports Insider, slider, Trevor Knight, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-18 04:44 Dracut High School may be south of the New Hampshire border, but the Massachusetts public school is most definitely taking a Granite State approach in its attempt at returning a storied football program to glory. Enter 28-year-old Trevor Knight, who was officially named head coach of the Dracut Middies in January after three seasons as an assistant coach between Nashua South and Merrimack while also owning and operating his own quarterback academy. Just like programs across the Granite State, Knight’s Massachusetts’ squad kicked off practices last week. “I’m excited to get things going,” Knight said. “These kids and our entire coaching staff are determined to turn things around here and bring Dracut football back stronger than ever.” Getting to this point, where he now follows in the footsteps of his father, Scott, was a longtime coming. It all started on the football field, where the Amherst native rose to stardom as a dual-threat quarterback at South, culminating in a senior season (passing for 1,800 yards, 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions, while rushing for 1,533 yards and 19 TDs) worthy of multiple New Hampshire Player of the Year honors - most notably, Gatorade, ESPN and USA Today. His talent carried over into college, where he finished his University of New Hampshire career ranked among the all-time best quarterbacks in career completions (590, fifth), passing yards (6,345, sixth) and pass attempts (1,005, sixth). His playing career came to a close with the Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As a reserve quarterback, Knight was part of the franchise’s 11th Grey Cup victory in 2019. His transition to the sidelines was a struggle at first, but one Knight has settled into almost as smoothly as an RPO play he’d break off for an 80-yard touchdown run. He’s spent the last three years gaining valuable knowledge of orchestrating a high school program under the tutelage of his dad at South and Kip Jackson, a longtime offensive mentor and family friend, at Merrimack. It certainly didn’t hurt to see how things were run at the next levels either, courtesy of legendary college coach Sean McDonnell and CFL coach Mike O'Shea. Knight felt it was time to take the reins of his own program. He bypassed openings in New Hampshire at Pelham and Hollis Brookline for a shot in the competitive Merrimack Valley Conference of Massachusetts. His first attempt, applying for the head coaching job at Lowell High School didn’t pan out, but word quickly spread through league circles that Knight was available and looking. Dracut athletic director Tom DiGeronimo didn’t hesitate in making the call to lock down his next coach. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bc/58/bc5866d0-9fd9-4113-b959-670d6f16471d/content/images/www-nh-highschoolsports-com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/jmnsfball101113-s7-5.jpg) Nashua South's Trevor Knight looks for an open receiver during Friday's game against Dover. Knight couldn’t pass up this opportunity. “Massachusetts football, especially the MVC, it’s just a different kind of animal,” Knight said of why he chose Dracut instead of applying for one of the smaller school openings in New Hampshire. “The facilities here are incredible - two new turf fields, new weight room, full-time strength and conditioning coach - it’s an incredible opportunity. How can you pass that up?” There are some individuals who might point at the last six seasons of Dracut football as reasons to do just that, and decline the job offer. The football program was in jeopardy of folding last fall with just 28 players on the roster and only 20 physically available to play. A one-year co-op agreement with Innovation Academy Charter School in Tyngsborough, Mass., kept things going and the Middies finished 2-8 for a total of 15 wins and 41 losses in six years. The lack of football players isn’t just a Dracut problem, where enrollment at the high school - between 850-900 - hasn’t changed dramatically in the last six years. In October of 2022, the [National Federation of State High School Associations reported](http://nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-releases-first-high-school-sports-participation-survey-in-three-years?ref=nh-highschoolsports.com) that participation in boys 11-player football was down 3 percent nationwide, but participation in six-, eight- and nine-player football had a 12-percent increase. Thus, taking on this specific program will be a challenge. Dracut football is looking for a fresh start. A challenge that Trevor Knight is ready to face head on. “It’s a major challenge for sure,” Knight said. “I’m very very in tune with the league, all their skill players that came through my academy - especially the quarterbacks and receivers - that I worked with. I know a ton of players and coaches from the MVC. "It’s not going to be easy, and I don’t think we’re expected to go out in year one and win a title, but we’re ready to start on day one to get this program back to respectability and generate excitement in the school and around town. I’m ready and excited to be a part of that.” Knight has assembled a strong group of assistant coaches to help in the resurgence of the Middies football program. Calling on friends and some fellow Granite Staters to get the job done. While holding the titles of head coach and offensive coordinator, Knight will lean on former UNH teammates Kieran Presley to tutor the wide receivers and defensive backs, and Matt Mascia, run game coordinator, to oversee the offensive line. He had also brought on Tarek Rothe, who coached at Campbell and Alvirne, to work with running backs and linebackers. Unfortunately, Rothe had to step down as an assistant days ago due to personal reasons with the hope of possibly rejoining the staff in the future. Despite having to relinquish his role as an assistant coach, Rothe will still be an in-house aid to Knight as a para-professional at Dracut High School, where Rothe was a two-way starter on the 1988 Division 2 championship team. He has all the faith in Knight to build his alma mater’s program back up into something special. “I think Trevor is the perfect fit,” Rothe said. “I really don’t think they could have gotten a better guy to take on this job. I thought it would need the energy of a young coach, and Trevor has done an amazing job of that. He’s recruited. He brings recognition. He’s got a positive reputation for all his accomplishments and everything he’s done. He’s got everything he needs to help these young kids feel excited to play football at Dracut. “He’s brilliant offensively. He’s got a great way with the kids. They respond to him. I’m excited for what’s to come under his leadership.” Rothe isn’t the only Dracut champion in the mix. Former Middies star Anthony Morin, who was on the last Dracut title team in 2008 (Division 1A), is taking on the role of defensive line coach. Rounding out the coaching staff is defensive coordinator Reggie Garrett, who has spent the last few years coaching at University of Rhode Island, Temple University and the University of Maine; and former NFL (Baltimore Ravens) and USFL (Birmingham Stallions) wide receiver Michael Dereus as a receivers coach. This collection of coaches under Knight’s guidance already appears to be winning the numbers game. “My main focus through February, March, April - even still now - it’s been to get the numbers up,” Knight said. “We’re over 50 registered right now and we have another 10 or so kids that we know are playing but maybe their physicals aren’t ready yet so they weren’t able to register. So we are looking good and should have three levels of football.” Knight’s positive vibes are taking over the Dracut football team as it prepares for the Sept. 13th season opener at North Andover High School. Scott Knight has no doubt his son’s attitude and outlook will take over the struggling program and win over the hearts and minds of Dracut’s student athletes. “They’re starting everything over, so I think he’ll bring fresh, new ideas to the table,” said Scott Knight, whose Panthers open their season Sept. 7 vs. Bishop Guertin 12 miles up the road from Dracut at Stellos Stadium in Nashua. “Trevor is going to bring a lot of energy, which is really good. I mean he’ll run around with the kids. So that stuff is invaluable, and will go a long way with the kids.” Putting the coaching hat aside, as a father, Scott is thrilled for Trevor in the next phase of his football career. “I’m proud of what he’s done,” Scott said of his son. “He was a great player for us and had a real nice college career. I think he would have had more opportunities in the pros and then Covid hit when he finally made it somewhere. It was just tough timing. "I think he did a good job of accepting that and switching gears to that coaching thing. So now he’s just starting a whole new journey, and one thing that sets him apart from a lot of people is that he just loves and has a strong passion for the game.” Trevor Knight’s plan seems to be in place for the town of Dracut to once again share that same love and passion for its football program once again.