Caroline Knop

Visiting Coach

Caroline Knop joins SC Elite as a visiting coach and will lend her talents and expertise to players looking for additional exposure to high level training.  Her coaching career, most recently with the top ranked Florida Gators, demonstrates a proven track record of success on the sidelines following a standout collegiate career.

experience


Coaching Career

In her first two seasons as an Assistant Coach at the University of Florida, Knop helped guide the Gators to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, extending the program’s streak to 33 consecutive berths—the third-longest active run in the nation. Florida secured its 25th SEC Championship in 2022 and advanced to the program’s 29th Regional Semifinal.


Specializing on the defensive end, Knop has been instrumental in Florida’s reputation as one of the nation’s top blocking teams. Under her guidance, the Gators finished both seasons ranked among the NCAA’s Top-20 in blocks per set and total blocks, while also leading the SEC in opponent hitting percentage in 2022. She has coached multiple AVCA All-Americans, including All-Region and All-SEC selections Kennedy Martin, Marina Markova, and Alexis Stucky.


Knop’s first season in Gainesville also coincided with a historic moment for the program: on September 17, 2023, Florida drew a record 10,323 fans to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center—the largest volleyball crowd in SEC history and the highest on-campus attendance ever for a match in the state of Florida.

At Charleston
Prior to returning to Gainesville, Knop spent three seasons at the College of Charleston. Her impact was immediate, with the Cougars leading the Colonial Athletic Association in digs per set and posting one of the program’s top single-season totals in service aces. In her final season, Charleston finished with a winning record of 16-12 overall and 9-7 in conference play.


Playing Career

A native of Pasadena, Calif., Knop cemented her legacy as one of Florida’s all-time great liberos. She started all 32 matches during the Gators’ run to the 2017 NCAA Championship match, leading the team with 4.46 digs per set despite playing the final month with a broken hand.


Over her two-year Florida career, Knop averaged 4.42 digs per set—the second-highest mark in program history. Her 517 digs in 2017 rank fourth all-time for a single season, and she posted an elite .970 serve reception rate. A two-time AVCA All-American and two-time All-SEC honoree, she consistently delivered in the biggest moments, recording 20-plus digs in numerous NCAA Tournament matches.


Honors & Accolades

  • Two-time AVCA All-America Honorable Mention (2016, 2017)
  • Two-time AVCA All-Southeast Region (2016, 2017)
  • Two-time All-SEC Selection (2016, 2017)
  • 2017 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll
  • SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 26, 2016)
  • Member of the 2015 USAV Junior National Team – Gold Medalist at European Global Challenge
  • Two-time USAV Junior National Training Team (2013–14)