Former Yorkton resident Blaine Knoll is set to join the Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame and Museum during the Hall's 2014 Inductee banquet, which will be held on Saturday, September 27 at the Painted Hand Casino.
Knoll, who grew up on a farm northwest of Yorkton, attended the Yorkton Collegiate Institute as a student. While there, Knoll played football, hockey and baseball, being coached by the great Ed Magis, himself a Yorkton Sports Hall of Fame inductee in football.
Upon graduation Knoll attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he starred as the running back on the Huskies football team. He also played on the hockey team while at university.
His football prowess caught the eye of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who invited the talented running back in for a tryout.
Following his Riders tryout Knoll, looking for another challenge, finished his Bachelor of Education degree and began teaching and coaching at Evan Hardy High School in Saskatoon.
Knoll coached the Souls football team for 17 prosperous years. The Evan Hardy Souls football team thrived under the knowledge of Knoll, going to the City Championships 15 times, winning 11 of them.
The Souls also won five Provincial titles under the tutelage of Knoll, taking home the Provincial crown in 1967 and 1968 before winning three straight titles from 1977-79.
Not only did Knoll coach football, he also coached wrestling, where he help mold future Olympian Bob Molle, who eventually went on to win a silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Once Knoll's time at Evan Hardy came to an end the Saskatoon Hilltops came calling, offering him the head-coaching job which he took and held from 1981-84, before retiring from the coaching ranks.
In 2010 Knoll was inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame, as well as in 1984 as a member of the 1969 Saskatoon Merchants men's fastball team.
Knoll will be officiallly inducted in to the HOF on Saturday, September 27.
