Tom Knotts Leaving Independence After 10 Years

CHARLOTTE, N.C.,None — Independence High School head football coach Tommy Knotts is leaving the Patriots after 10 years.

A source close to the situation told Eyewitness News sports anchor Tiffany Wright that Knotts will become athletics director and football coach at Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, South Carolina. That source said the school offered Knotts the job back in December.

Knotts was head coach in Charlotte's schools for 26 years, finishing 296-60 overall. He finished 52-22 in six years at Harding and was 113-32 in 10 years at West Charlotte.

Knotts had 131 wins and only 6 losses at Independence. He won 6 straight titles while coaching between 2000 and 2006.

Rumors swirled around Knotts leaving after the 2009 season when the Patriots lost in the state semifinals to the eventual state champions and bitter rival, Butler Bulldogs.

WSOC