Former Bull Brian Knapp Joins Coaching Staff
8/6/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BUFFALO, NY - Brian Knapp enters his first season as a volunteer assistant for the men's soccer team after playing for four years in the Blue and White. The former midfielder played for the Bulls from 2003-06 and helped lead a turnaround that saw the team go from winning one game in 2003 to a program-record 14 in 2005. Knapp is eighth on the program's career assist record list with 14 for his career.
While at UB, Brian also won two gold medals playing for Coach Hesch at the Empire State games for the Western team.
"Being a four-year player for us at UB and playing professionally for the past few years is going to add some great depth to our staff," said interim head coach David Hesch. "I really trust Brian - we went to the same high school and played for the same coaches - so we have similar coaching philosophies and I know that he has what it takes to positively influence our team. I've seen how impactful his leadership abilities were on the field, now I'm excited to see him develop as a coach on our staff."
After finishing his career at Buffalo, Knapp went on to play professionally with futsal, an indoor soccer variant that is played on a smaller field and uses only five players per side at a time. Knapp was a United States futsal national team reserve and eventually played the sport professionally in the FK-League in Korea with the Yes Gumi Futsal Club, leading the team in goals and assists, then playing for Gyeongsan Five Star Futsal Club.
Knapp replaces departing volunteer assistant Kieron Gradwell.
