WILKES-BARRE, PA (February 16, 2023) -- With the transition from the winter sports season to the spring on the horizon, the King's College athletic department will tackle its latest transition as head football coach Jeff Knarr announced he will be stepping down from the role on Thursday evening.

Knarr was announced as the next head coach of the Monarchs football program on February 11, 2010 and served a highly successful stint in rebuilding the King's College football program over the last 13 seasons. After holding a variety of positions at Centennial powerhouse Muhlenberg College from 1999 to 2009, Knarr was instrumental in bolstering the Monarchs to their current status within the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) and Division III football.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here at King's," said Knarr. "The College truly embodies it's vision of 'teaching its students not only how to make a living, but how to live.' We used the motto as the framework for the goal of our program, to make our players the best version of themselves on and off the field. I have a great staff and can't thank them enough for their tireless work ethic and dedication to our program. We have great kids, and I will miss them greatly. I'm excited to see them continue to have success on and off the field."

Over the course of his tenure with the Monarchs, Knarr reinvented the offensive game for the red and gold, setting numerous single game and single season records in the last 12 active seasons. The greatest example of that team growth was seen this past season as the Monarchs recorded the second-best season, and the best under Knarr, in program history in 2022, as Knarr led King's to an 8-3 overall mark, including 7-1 against MAC opponents which earned them a spot in the program's first Centennial-MAC Bowl Series in the seven years of the tradition.

Individually, Knarr coached 12 MAC First Team honorees, 30 Second Team recipients, and 15 Honorable Mention student-athletes. This season, Knarr helped guide Teone Sherrod to become the program's first All-American under his reign, while also adding six D3football.com All-Region honorees over the last three seasons.

Off the turf, Knarr's student-athletes have seen conference and national success for their academic abilities, including 19 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society inductees, 21 Academic All-MAC recipients, nine CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-District honorees, and two MAC Football Senior Scholar-Athletes of the Year and CoSIDA National Academic All-Americans.

"It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to be the Head Football Coach at King's College," added Knarr. "I will be forever grateful to our Athletic Director Cheryl Ish. Her guidance and support were invaluable to me and our program. My family and I will always cherish our time here at King's, but we are very excited for the next chapter, experiences, and opportunities that await."

Knarr will be stepping down after 31 years of coaching to transition to a role that will enable him to utilize his coaching and recruiting skill set, while still having the ability to spend more time with his family.

"Jeff Knarr's decision to depart King's College is bittersweet," said Associate Vice President and Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation Cheryl Ish. "Jeff has committed much time and energy into building a successful program. His dedication to our student-athletes, coaches, and colleagues is tangible, and he will be missed. However, understanding all that he has given to King's, I'm happy he is transitioning into a role that will allow him to spend more time with his family."

A national search will commence for the next head football coach for the King's College Monarchs football program.