By Fred J. Robledo
Bonita High School baseball coach John Knott will be named Wednesday to take over the Mount San Antonio College baseball program, taking over for Kevin Smith, who was hired away from South Hills in 2013 and was just 17-19 this past season.
Knott has been one of the most successful high school coaches in the San Gabriel Valley over the last decade, compiling a 247-75-2 record since taking over at Bonita in 2006.
The 2006 season was Knott’s only losing season.
His teams at Bonita have won at least 18 games or more the past 10 seasons, which includes seven 20-win seasons and the incredible 32-2 finish in 2012, in which Bonita defeated Alhambra 5-1 for the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championship at Dodgers Stadium, earning Bonita its second championship ever, and first since 1951.
Bonita won six straight league titles from 2009-20014, and are 23-5 this season and hoping to make a run in the Division 2 playoffs next week, which will be Knotts’ farewell ride.
Knott couldn’t speak on the record because the position doesn’t become official until Wednesday, but he already has informed his team and school officials of his intentions.
Although Knott loves coaching at Bonita, moving to Mt. SAC was a difficult position to pass up because it comes with a teaching position and a big boost in salary.