One Knoxville SC dismisses head coach Mark McKeever

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The search is on for the second head coach in One Knoxville SC history following the announcement that Mark McKeever will depart the club after two and half seasons in charge.

One Knoxville revealed Thursday that McKeever will depart the club with immediate effect. Assistant coach Ilija Ilić will serve as interim head coach beginning Friday when Knoxville hosts Chattanooga Red Wolves SC. The match will air live on 6 News.

McKeever was named head coach ahead of the team’s inaugural 2022 campaign in USL League Two. He led the team to a South Central Division title with an 11-2-1 regular season record. They hosted multiple rounds of playoff competition before falling in the national quarterfinals.

Following the 2022 season, One Knoxville announced they would move up to USL League One, a Division III professional league . McKeever was tapped to continue as head coach.

Knoxville finished their first professional season in eighth place, five points off of the final playoff spot. The defense conceded 39 goals in 32 matches, the joint-fewest in the league. Their offense notched just 36 goals, tied with last-place Central Valley Fuego FC for the fewest in 2023.

While the Knoxville defense remains among the league’s best, their offensive woes have continued in 2024 despite several new offensive signings. One Knoxville has scored 19 goals in 19 matches across USL League One and the USL Jägermeister Cup this season. In more than 50 matches at the professional level, One Knoxville has scored three goals in a game on one occasion.

McKeever compiled a 32-23-16 record across all competitions.

We thank Mark for all his work and dedication in not only helping us found One Knoxville but take us into the professional ranks. We wish Mark nothing but the best in his future endeavors. Looking ahead, we are excited to find a new Head Coach for One Knoxville as we transition into our milestone 2025 season in the Old City Stadium . We will be looking for a coach with a technical capability who will bring an exciting brand of football, but also a desire to continue building the Club into Knoxville’s premier professional sports organization. That work is done not only on gamedays, but through our youth programs, and in the community.

One Knoxville SC statement

The news comes with 10 matches remaining in the USL League One regular season. Knoxville currently sits in fifth place with 20 points after 12 matches. The top eight teams will qualify for the 2024 playoffs.

“I want to thank Drew McKenna and everyone at One Knox,” McKeever said in a statement. “It’s been an incredible experience over the last few years and I am immensely proud of the progress this team has made, the support they’ve shown for each other and the inspiration they’ve provided to the fans in Knoxville.  I look forward to watching and supporting One Knox’s continued success both on and off the field.”

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