Knashia Dawson completed her first season after being named interim head coach for the cross country team in August 2024. Dawson has been with the program as an assistant coach all four seasons the program has existed, as she becomes the second coach to lead the squad into a fifth season. She helped the Trailblazers set many program records in track and field this season, highlighted by several personal records at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships. The program also celebrated five SAC Athletes of the Week, the first time the program had any recipients in program history.
Dawson brings 15 years of previous coaching experience, including five years in the Duncanville school district as the jumps, relay, and speed coach. Dawson was also the jumps and relay coach for the summer track program TRUTH which later became Elite Endurance track club.
Dawson competed at Kimball High School where she broke the women's indoor record her final two years while playing other sports.
Dawson attended Purdue and earned her master's degree in healthcare administration and bachelor's degree in health and health science.
