Arizona football is hiring Aaron Knotts as the program's next general manager. The addition of Knotts was first reported by ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Knotts will join Arizona after serving as director of internal operations and football strategy at Washington under former UA head coach Jedd Fisch.
Knotts spent 12 seasons at UW under former head coaches Chris Petersen, Jimmy Lake, Kalen DeBoer and Fisch. Petersen, who is one of Arizona head coach Brent Brennan's mentors, hired Knotts in 2015.
Knotts is replacing former Arizona general manager Gaizka Crowley, who took a similar role with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Crowley left Arizona after helping sign the fifth-best recruiting class in the Big 12 for the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports.com.
Prior to his 12-year stint at Washington, Knotts graduated from Miami (Ohio) and started his coaching career at his alma mater, St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky. As a player, Knotts was a standout fullback and led St. Xavier to a state championship appearance in 2007.
Knotts
In spring 2014, Knotts became a tight ends coach at Division III Centre College in Kentucky and joined Petersen's staff at Washington later in the year. His initial role was focused on high school relations and player personnel, before he became chief of staff in 2018.
Knotts helped with day-to-day operations of the football program, future scheduling, recruiting, NIL, marketing, budgeting, capital projects and compliance, among other tasks. He also served as the NFL liaison for eight seasons from 2016-23. Knotts was hired to a three-person search committee at Washington, appointed by former UW athletic director Troy Dannen, who hired Fisch.
Knott's time in Washington included five 10-win seasons, four New Year’s Six bowl games, three Pac-12 championships, two College Football Playoff semifinal appearances and a national championship appearance.
No. 17 Arizona (9-3) faces SMU (8-4) in the 46th Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Friday, Jan. 2, at 6 p.m. on Fox. A radio broadcast will be available on 1290-AM and 92.5-FM in Spanish.
