MONMOUTH, Ore. --- Western Oregon hall of fame track and field coach John Knight who guided the Wolves to national prominence died June 23.

Knight was 86 years old. His memorial service will be broadcast 10:30 a.m. Friday at this link. The event will be held at the WOU Wolves Athletic Center and a reception and sharing of memories will follow at the WOU Gentle House.

Knight coached the Wolves from 1989-2003, earning national coach of the year honors twice (1993 and 2003), developing 17 individual national champions and more than 250 All-Americans. He was named conference coach of the year for eight consecutive seasons.

Knight was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1990, into the NAIA District II Hall of Fame in 1994 and into the WOU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. WOU's annual outdoor meet the John Knight Twilight is named in his honor.

Knight played football and ran track at Valparaiso - graduating in 1962 and he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, however a career-ending injury derailed his professional career. He first came to Oregon in 1964 where he was a teacher and coach at Concordia High School in Portland. In 1968 he was hired at Linfield as a graduate assistant football, wrestling and track and field coach. He'd eventually become the head track coach from 1970-78 and served as the football team's defensive coordinator through the 1977 season.

From 1978-89 he taught classes, coached cross country and track and field and served as athletic director and dean of students at Concordia University in Nebraska before coming to Monmouth to close out his illustrious career.

Knight is survived by his wife Susanna, daughter Jennifer, son Lawson, his sister, Margaret; his brother, Robert; his sister-in-law, Kay; his brother-in-law, James; his beloved grandchildren, Madelyn, Molly, Chloe, and Colton; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.