Mel Knowlton was a teacher, head football coach and athletic director at Alliance High School over a period of 24 years, but it was his coaching that made him a legend. As a high school student he was an outstanding athlete at Massillon High School in the early 1930’s under head coach Paul Brown. He went on to play football, baseball and basketball at the University of Miami of Ohio, graduating in 1937.
Mel and his spouse Dorothy, came to Alliance in 1946 and in his first season his team was 7-3. He went on to compile a record of 150 wins against 85 losses and eight ties. During that time Alliance won a state championship in 1958 and six of his teams finished in the top ten in the state, including a second place finish in 1948 and third place in 1960. He was named Ohio Coach of the Year in 1954 and Stark County Coach of the Year two times. He was a past president of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association
Mel was known and respected by college coaches throughout the country for his ability to develop excellent passing quarterbacks, five of whom he would send to the Big Ten Conference. One of his quarterbacks, Len Dawson, made it all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mel’s players were more than good football players. His system, which began in the seventh grade, taught strong discipline with a heavy emphasis on commitment and character. After retiring from coaching in 1969, he remained the athletic director at Alliance until 1978. Because of his outstanding accomplishments at AHS, Mel was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Hall of Fame in 1971, the University of Miami Hall of Fame in 1981, and the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. Mel Knowlton passed away in 1994.
Mel and his spouse Dorothy, came to Alliance in 1946 and in his first season his team was 7-3. He went on to compile a record of 150 wins against 85 losses and eight ties. During that time Alliance won a state championship in 1958 and six of his teams finished in the top ten in the state, including a second place finish in 1948 and third place in 1960. He was named Ohio Coach of the Year in 1954 and Stark County Coach of the Year two times. He was a past president of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association
Mel was known and respected by college coaches throughout the country for his ability to develop excellent passing quarterbacks, five of whom he would send to the Big Ten Conference. One of his quarterbacks, Len Dawson, made it all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Mel’s players were more than good football players. His system, which began in the seventh grade, taught strong discipline with a heavy emphasis on commitment and character. After retiring from coaching in 1969, he remained the athletic director at Alliance until 1978. Because of his outstanding accomplishments at AHS, Mel was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Hall of Fame in 1971, the University of Miami Hall of Fame in 1981, and the AHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996. Mel Knowlton passed away in 1994.
From 1991 to 1994 the Mel Knowlton Memorial Scholarship Fund was administrated by the AHS Alumni Foundation with the Mel Knowlton Scholarship Committee selecting the recipients. For a five year period beginning in 1995, the funds were transferred to the Mel Knowlton Scholarship Committee. The Len Dawson Celebrity Golf Classic, which was established early in the scholarship’s existence, was extremely successful in the mid 1990’s raising approximately $100,000 over a six year period. In 2000 the AHS Alumni Foundation once again accepted the responsibility of overseeing the administration and investments of the Mel Knowlton Scholarship Fund. The Mel Knowlton Scholarship Committee continues to select the scholarship recipients.
Eva Miller 2024 Recipient
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Jayla Callock 2024 Recipient
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Kevin Frazier 2024 Recipient
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Seth Dillon 2024 Recipient
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