Saint Joseph's men's and women's tennis head coach Jeff Puhan has announced the addition of Donovan "Dony" McKnight to the Hawk coaching staff.  McKnight will work with both the men's and women's squads in his role.
 
"I want to thank Coach Puhan for giving me the opportunity to come to Hawk Hill and be a part of this program," McKnight said.  "There is a strong alignment between the principles, values, and culture I've had the privilege to build at my previous coaching stops and what Coach Puhan is building here at Saint Joseph's.  I can't wait to get started with this new challenge in my career!"
 
"I'm very excited for Dony to join us on Hawk Hill," Puhan said.  "The energy, passion for the game, and work ethic that he brings are a perfect match as we take the St. Joe's tennis programs to the next level.  Welcome to Hawk Hill!"
 
McKnight comes to SJU from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, where he served as the head coach of the men's and women's programs for the past two seasons.  Under his leadership, the Braves secured their first-ever NAIA National Championship tournament berths, with the women's team qualifying in both 2023 and 2024 and the men breaking through in 2024.  Over the course of his two seasons, Ottawa players earned 15 All-Conference honors, including a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference-record nine honorees in 2023.
 
Prior to his time at Ottawa, McKnight spent time in St. Louis, Missouri, where was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Maryville University, while also serving as an assistant tennis professional at both Forest Lake Tennis and Swim Club and St. Louis Country Club.  During his season at Maryville, the men's team earned a national ranking while the women's team qualified for its conference championship.
 
As a student-athlete for the Saints, McKnight was selected to the ITA All-Academic Team in 2020 and was a frequent member of the Dean's List.  A native of O'Fallon, Illinois, McKnight graduated from Maryville in 2021 before earning his MBA from the school a year later.