When students and athletes start back for the school year at Knoxville on Monday, the kids will enter a new era in the athletic department.There is a new athletic director, Ryan Rump. Also, there are no less than six new varsity coaches, three of which will greet Panther teams this fall. Eric Kellar is the new football coach, while Chantell Downing is the new volleyball coach, and Michael Splavec will coach the cross country squads. Add to that, Knoxville teams for the first time in 18 years play in the South Central Conference. Knoxville left the Little Hawkeye Conference after last season where Knoxville was one of the smallest schools. Knoxville becomes the largest school in the South Central Conference.

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