McKnight returns to coaching
The B.C. Lions announced on Monday the appointment of Dennis McKnight as their new special teams coordinator. McKnight, a veteran coach, had previously retired after serving as special teams coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Despite his retirement, McKnight expressed that his passion for football remained, noting that he would often find himself critiquing plays while watching games.
McKnight brings extensive experience to the Lions, having coached for over two decades in both professional and college football. His coaching career began in 1999 at the University of Hawaii. He has since held various roles across multiple NCAA programs and the XFL, including stints at Grossmont College, San Diego State, Southern Methodist University, and Lamar University. He also served as a high school head coach at The Atonement Academy in San Antonio in 2016.
Prior to his most recent role with the Tiger-Cats, McKnight had an earlier tenure with the team, initially as special teams coordinator in 2017, followed by two seasons as offensive line coach from 2018-19. During his time as offensive line coach in 2019, his unit contributed to Hamilton leading the CFL in net offence per game and ranking in the top three for several key categories, including first downs, sacks allowed, and rushing yards per game. His first entry into the CFL was in 2011 as running backs coach for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Team outlook and player reactions
The Lions’ decision to hire McKnight follows the dismissal of former special teams coordinator Cory McDiarmid on June 28, after the team started the season with three consecutive losses. The team’s current record is 1-3, heading into a bye week. Neil McEvoy, the Lions’ vice president of football operations, acknowledged the challenging situation McKnight is stepping into, noting that McDiarmid was well-regarded by the players.
Riley Pickett, a fullback for the Lions, expressed disappointment regarding McDiarmid’s departure, stating that the players wished they could have done more for him. However, Pickett also emphasized the team’s readiness to perform for McKnight, acknowledging that sudden changes are part of football, especially with a new coach four games into a season.
Veteran kicker Sean Whyte echoed the sentiment of adaptation, highlighting the learning curve associated with a new coach. He stated that professional football players must adjust to new coaching styles and methods. McEvoy also stressed the need for the entire team—offence, defence, and special teams—to improve their performance to turn the season around, as the 1-3 start was not what anyone expected.
McKnight’s playing career and new addition
Before his coaching career, McKnight had a notable playing career in the NFL. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, he played 141 games as an offensive guard from 1982-92. He spent eight seasons with the San Diego Chargers, where he started 85 games. McKnight also played for the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to the coaching announcement, the B.C. Lions also confirmed the signing of American offensive lineman JaQuan Adams to their practice roster. Adams, who is six-foot-four and 300 pounds, played his senior season at Tulsa in 2025, starting 11 games on the offensive line. During his time at Tulsa, he contributed to an offence that averaged 175.5 rushing yards per game and 379.9 total yards of offence per game. His college career also included stints at Monroe and Gardner-Webb before transferring to East Tennessee State for the 2024 season, where he started 12 games and helped the team surpass 100 rushing yards in 11 instances.
The Lions are scheduled to return to play on Friday, facing the Elks in Edmonton.
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Source: sportsnet.ca
