Knapstein Named Interim Head Football Coach

In a press conference on Friday, principal Faustin Weber introduced athletic director Paul Knapstein as interim head football coach for St. Michael until such time as Philip Rivers completes his career. 

Knapstein has played or coached football most of his life. Growing up in Chattanooga, he played high school ball at Notre Dame, and was recruited by several large and small schools, choosing Rhodes College to further his education and playing career.  Upon graduating, he coached at Memphis Catholic, both as an assistant and as head coach, then as an assistant at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN, and also an assistant at John Carroll High School in Birmingham. Locally he coached six years at Bayside Academy, where he was the offensive coordinator, and later at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. 

“I am grateful for this opportunity to lead our football program,” Knapstein says,  and I’m eager to get started working with our squad.  I want to thank Coach Phelps for his commitment to our program. Under his leadership our team has improved dramatically every season.  We will continue to grow what he has started.  I know our young program will face many challenges as we move into 4A competition this year, but our coaches, players, supporters, and I are committed to meeting them head on.”

Weber explained the decision to go with Knapstein as interim. “We looked at some external candidates, but when we considered the problems posed by the pandemic, such as when we could begin practicing this summer or when the season might start, we realized that an outside guy would have a real disadvantage, not knowing the players, their personalities, or their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll hit the ground running with Paul—heck, he’s already breaking down tape from last year.  In addition, we thought this would make the most seamless transition to Philip, given some of the variability in the timeline.”

“I know Paul very well—he’s been my right arm in the founding of St. Michael as athletic director and assistant principal. He’s a good man, but he’s also tough, competitive and smart. I think he’ll lead our program with wisdom and enthusiasm.”