Scott Knight is stepping down as the Nashua South head coach after 22 years in that role, and 14 as an assistant before that. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA – Scott Knight didn’t mind the drive every day from his new lake home in Ashland to Nashua High School South.

But once he entered the school, he felt different. The 60-year old Knight had retired as a teacher last spring and felt a little out of place while still coaching the Panthers football team for the 22nd straight season as its head man, and 36th overall.

“It was more different than I thought it would be,” he said. “I’d been in the building my whole career. … “plenty of coaches that go from a different work to coach. That’s what they’ve always done. But for me, this was something new, just rolling in at 1:15 whatever. I just had a different vibe coming in. I liked being in the building all day long. … It wasn’t as fun as it should have been. It had a different feel to it.”

So about a month ago, Knight decided it might be time to hand the reins over. After a lot of thought, he informed Nashua athletic director Lisa Gingras last Thursday in their scheduled postseason review meeting he wasn’t coming back for season No. 23, and then told his staff later that day and then the players in a meeting on Monday…Instead, he’ll likely spend next year as an assistant at Plymouth State, with a chance to coach football without the headaches of being a head man.

“I’ll still be a Panther,” Knight chuckled. “But a green Panther. (PSU’s color).”

The question, of course, is who will take his place? Gingras posted the position on Monday, and feels it should draw a wide scope of candidates. Knight said that there are “some really solid guys” on his staff who are “all worthy candidates.”

“It’s a Division I program, everybody knows how much success they had this year and we’re anticipating good success next year,” Gingras said. “I’m sure it will attract a lot of people.”

Gingras said they won’t “fast track” the process but give it its “due diligence”, with the hopes of starting interviews right after the holidays.

“I’m hoping to have interviews the first week in January and that by the middle of January we’ll have a new coach,” she said.

Knight’s son, former South and UNH standout Trevor Knight, who just finished his first year as Dracut (Mass.) High School head coach is not believed to be be interested in the position. The younger Knight is in a good situation in Dracut, with several resources and an improved feeder system.

Citing a desire to leave a talented, experienced roster for his successor, Scott Knight felt the timing was perfect.

“It was the right time,” Knight said. “Number one, the cupboard is full. For my successor, that’s a good situation, that’s the main thing. I want to leave something good behind for the next guy, make the transition easier. That’s a great group coming back, They’re going to go places, a real nice team.”

Knight was an assistant under late Nashua High interim coach John Fagula in 1989, then served on the staff of Nashua coaches Bob Aylward and Bill Hardy as strength and line coach. He took over as head coach when Hardy stepped down in the spring of 2003, and in his 22 seasons won a state title in 2008 at South, after making the finals his first season in 2003 at the one Nashua High, losing to Manchester Central. He coached South to one other final in 2007, bowing to Pinkerton.

The Panthers had reached the Division I sems a few times. This past season was their best in the last six years, as they finished 8-3, bowing to Londonderry in the quarterfinals.

“I was kind of sad,” he said his feeling was after the game. “I just coached my last game, and I really can’t tell anybody. I just can’t make an announcement there, I haven’t even told the AD yet.”

“Obviously he’s loved every minute of it,” Gingras said. “He’s left quite a legacy. The biggest thing with Scott that I don’t think a lot of people see is what he does for the kids exposing them to the next (collegiate) level. He wants them to go on and play at the next level, experience continuing to play the game that they love.”

Knight will help out with meeting with college coaches, and run the weight room for a bit until the transition is complete.

“They’ll figure it out,” he said.

Just like Scott Knight did.