Hokie Club Responsibilities: Knachel is responsible for photographic coverage of Virginia Tech’s 22 intercollegiate sports, photos shoots and other still photography for the Athletic Department. He maintains an organized collection of both current and historical images and facilitates the distribution of photographic assets both internally and externally. He also manages a team of students that assist in all areas of still photography for the department.
Joined VT Athletics Staff: In 1984, Knachel began doing freelance/part-time photography and graphic design work for the Hokies, and became a full-time Athletic Department employee in 1996.
At Virginia Tech: Knachel’s initial full-time position at Tech was as an assistant sports information director with photography and graphic design/publications as the primary focus. As the first on-staff photographer in the athletic department, Knachel built all aspects of the office from the ground up. Making the change from film to digital ahead of when many organizations did, and developing a well-organized system for creating, editing, archiving and distributing images was instrumental in helping Virginia Tech athletics stay on the cutting edge in an ever-changing multi-media society. As the department expanded, Knachel’s role gradually transitioned away from doing graphic design work to concentrating mostly on photography.
Prior to Virginia Tech: Knachel got his feet wet working with the Student Publications Photography Staff at Virginia Tech, serving as the photo editor for two years. He then spent seven years working as a full-time photographer and graphics editor for local newspapers, and operated a photography business for several years. While working those jobs, Knachel also did extensive part-time photography and design work for the athletic department from 1984 until 1996 when he joined the Hokies in a full-time position.
Education: Studied Communications/Journalism at Virginia Tech; Class of 1985
Of Note: As part of the Virginia Tech Sports Information, Media Relations, Publications and Communications teams, Knachel has helped the staff win numerous CoSIDA awards, including several Best in the Nation honors.
Personal: Knachel was born in Austin, Texas, in 1963. As the son of an officer in the U.S. Navy and an elementary school teacher, he also lived in Athens, Georgia; San Diego, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Subic Bay, Philippines; Marion, Ohio; Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; and Fairfax, Virginia; before heading south to Blacksburg in 1981 to attend Virginia Tech. Still an avid traveler, he has been to all 50 states and visited 32 countries.
Knachel was active in church groups, band and scouting growing up, earning Eagle Scout honors. He enjoyed playing baseball as a youth and then was a four-year letterwinner in track & field at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where he earned numerous medals in the pole vault, including placing in the Group AAA state meet as a senior. He enjoyed competing in various recreational sports for many years until his aging body caught up with him.
A former long-time Special Olympics volunteer, coach and Area leader, Knachel also served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Virginia. He and his family attend Blue Ridge Church.
Knachel currently resides in Christiansburg, Virginia with his wife, Kelly, who initially retired after 30 years in public education but now works as Director, Ticketing Operations (Finance) for the Virginia Tech Athletics Department. The Hokie couple has two children, Seth and Macie, as well as a grandchild.
Joined VT Athletics Staff: In 1984, Knachel began doing freelance/part-time photography and graphic design work for the Hokies, and became a full-time Athletic Department employee in 1996.
At Virginia Tech: Knachel’s initial full-time position at Tech was as an assistant sports information director with photography and graphic design/publications as the primary focus. As the first on-staff photographer in the athletic department, Knachel built all aspects of the office from the ground up. Making the change from film to digital ahead of when many organizations did, and developing a well-organized system for creating, editing, archiving and distributing images was instrumental in helping Virginia Tech athletics stay on the cutting edge in an ever-changing multi-media society. As the department expanded, Knachel’s role gradually transitioned away from doing graphic design work to concentrating mostly on photography.
Prior to Virginia Tech: Knachel got his feet wet working with the Student Publications Photography Staff at Virginia Tech, serving as the photo editor for two years. He then spent seven years working as a full-time photographer and graphics editor for local newspapers, and operated a photography business for several years. While working those jobs, Knachel also did extensive part-time photography and design work for the athletic department from 1984 until 1996 when he joined the Hokies in a full-time position.
Education: Studied Communications/Journalism at Virginia Tech; Class of 1985
Of Note: As part of the Virginia Tech Sports Information, Media Relations, Publications and Communications teams, Knachel has helped the staff win numerous CoSIDA awards, including several Best in the Nation honors.
Personal: Knachel was born in Austin, Texas, in 1963. As the son of an officer in the U.S. Navy and an elementary school teacher, he also lived in Athens, Georgia; San Diego, California; Boston, Massachusetts; Subic Bay, Philippines; Marion, Ohio; Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; and Fairfax, Virginia; before heading south to Blacksburg in 1981 to attend Virginia Tech. Still an avid traveler, he has been to all 50 states and visited 32 countries.
Knachel was active in church groups, band and scouting growing up, earning Eagle Scout honors. He enjoyed playing baseball as a youth and then was a four-year letterwinner in track & field at W.T. Woodson High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where he earned numerous medals in the pole vault, including placing in the Group AAA state meet as a senior. He enjoyed competing in various recreational sports for many years until his aging body caught up with him.
A former long-time Special Olympics volunteer, coach and Area leader, Knachel also served a three-year term on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Virginia. He and his family attend Blue Ridge Church.
Knachel currently resides in Christiansburg, Virginia with his wife, Kelly, who initially retired after 30 years in public education but now works as Director, Ticketing Operations (Finance) for the Virginia Tech Athletics Department. The Hokie couple has two children, Seth and Macie, as well as a grandchild.