Brian Knapp was announced as the ninth head women’s soccer coach at Hartwick College on July 12, 2017 and is going into his eleventh year on Oyaron Hill. He served as the assistant coach with the Hawks in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Knapp has led the Hawks to an Empire 8 Playoff berth in six of his eight years as head coach, including a conference championship in 2017 and a final appearance in 2019.
On September 17th, 2024, Brian Knapp secured his 50th career victory as head coach with a 1-0 triumph over the SUNY Delhi Broncos in Delhi, NY.
Knapp captured his sixth consecutive Empire 8 Playoff berth in 2022, going 4-2-3 in conference play. Under Knapp's guidance, five Hawks notched Empire 8 All-Conference honors.
In 2021, Knapp propelled the Hawks to their fifth straight playoff appearance, finishing the 2021 campaign with a 7-6-4 record, posting a 4-2-2 conference mark. Hartwick's 4-1 home victory over Utica in the first round of the Empire 8 Tournament, netted two players with All-Tournament honors. Five Hawks earned All-Conference honors for their regular season contributions.
In the fall of 2019, Knapp led Hartwick to a 12-4-3 record, an undefeated league mark at 4-0-3, a share of the Empire 8 regular season title, and the program's fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Seven Hawks earned all-conference honors, including All-East Region First Team and Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year Courtney Velho. Knapp and his staff was also tapped as the 2019 Empire 8 Women's Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year.
Knapp's Hawks finished 9-7-2 overall and earned an Empire 8 playoff berth for the third consecutive season in 2018. Six Hawks earned all-conference accolades, including all-region selection Gabrielle Kreppein.
In the fall of 2017, Knapp piloted the Hawks to a share of the Empire 8 Championship, the program’s first league title in its history. The team’s 7-1 conference record was a program-best, its 13 shutouts was two better than the previous benchmark of 11 in 1990, and its 13 victories on the year was tied for the second-most in College history. He would coach Madison Miller to all-region and Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight season, Courtney Velho to E8 Co-Rookie of the Year accolades, and four players to the Empire 8 First Team. Knapp and his staff also were tapped the conference's Coaching Staff of the Year.
In 2016, Knapp helped lead the Hawks to a record of 10-5-3, which marked the second straight season the program has reached 10 victories. In addition, the team earned a berth in the Empire 8 Conference playoffs for the first time since 2002 and defeated local rival SUNY Oneonta for the first time since 1997.
Prior to his arrival, the former Division I standout spent two seasons as an assistant at Buffalo State. Knapp helped the Bengals to back-to-back appearances in the SUNYAC semifinals, an overall record of 18-14-7, and a conference mark of 10-6-2.
Knapp also spent one season as an assistant coach with the men's soccer program at his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, in 2012. Along with his collegiate coaching, he has also spent time with the Albany Alleycats, FC Dutchmen, Black Watch WNY, BC United and Ha Tae Yo Youth Football Club in South Korea.
Coach Knapp holds United States Soccer Federation (USSF) E level and D level coaching licenses as well as his D-level coaching license from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Korean Football Association (KFA).
Knapp also spent one season as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer program at his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, in 2012. He coaches with the Albany Alleycats in the National Premier League and has coaching experience as an assistant at Genesee Community College and with the Ha Tae Yo Youth Football Club in South Korea, Black Watch Western New York Premier Soccer Club, and Soccer for Success in Buffalo.
As a college player, Knapp played for the UB Bulls from 2003-2006. The program improved from just one win in his freshman season to a program-record 14 victories in his junior campaign, which saw the Bulls crack the national polls. An All-Mid-American Conference pick, he finished his collegiate career ranked eighth in assists with 14.
Following his days at UB, Knapp played professional futsal for four years in the South Korean FK-League with Yes Gumi Futsal Club and for Gyeongsan Five Star Futsal Club. He led his team in both goals and assists before being brought on to the United States Futsal National Team as a reserve. In addition, Knapp played professionally for the Rochester Lancers in the Major Arena Soccer League(MASL).
Knapp is married to his wife Liz and lives in Oneonta with their dog Zia, and two cats, Hooper and Bean.
Knapp earned a bachelor’s degree in history from UB in 2007.
