Cape hires Chip Knapp as football coach

Cape Henlopen School District has announced the hiring of Christopher “Chip” Knapp as the new head coach of the high school varsity football team.

Knapp brings more than 30 years of experience, leadership and passion for the game. Between 1989 and 2021, Knapp served as an offensive coordinator, assistant head coach and head coach of the football program at Wesley College. While there, he administered all aspects of a top small college football program and continued the program’s streak of 15 postseason appearances. In 2021, he joined the Dover High School football program, where he was the head coach and a social studies/float teacher until January 2024. During his time coaching in Dover, Knapp led the team to three winning seasons and three DIAA State Championship berths, including an appearance in the finals of the 2022 season.

“Coach Knapp has led successful programs both at the high school and collegiate level,” said Cape Superintendent Bob Fulton. “His commitment to excellence and student development aligns perfectly with our school’s values, and we are confident that he will have a positive impact on our program. We are looking forward to working with him and seeing our student-athletes flourish under his leadership.”

Knapp expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity.

“I am honored to join the Cape Henlopen family and lead the Vikings’ football team,” he said. “My goal is to build a strong, competitive program while mentoring young athletes to succeed both in sports and in life. I am looking forward to meeting and working with the talented students and coaching staff at Cape!”

The high school players and current coaching staff will meet Knapp at a team meet-and-greet in the coming weeks.