Robin Knebel broke into coaching in 2018 as an assistant at Douglas.

Many in the Oregon sports community know Robin Knebel as the massive all-state offensive linemen at Roseburg in the late 1990s who went on to a stellar football career at the University of Oregon.

Now, 16 years after the end of his playing career, Knebel is adding a new identity – head football coach at Douglas High School in Winston.

Knebel got into coaching in 2018 when he joined the staff at 3A Douglas, serving the last two seasons as an assistant. As head coach, he succeeds Silia Polamalu, who went 11-32 in five seasons, including 0-9 last year.

Knebel, who spent 14 years working in the Douglas County Juvenile Department, also has been hired as a counselor at the school.

“I've been working with kids since I finished up college and moved back down here,” he said. “As far as coaching goes, my schedules never really worked out. But some things changed, and I had the opportunity to start coaching, and I kind of jumped on it.”

Two years ago, Knebel said, he received inquiries from Douglas, 6A Roseburg and 1A North Douglas about coaching football. He had come to know Polamalu from their children playing sports together.

“I just kind of decided that Douglas would be the best fit,” he said.

Knebel has coached the lines and special teams for the Trojans. He said that coaching at Douglas is “not quite what I remember” from his playing days at Roseburg, a traditional big-school powerhouse under legendary coach Thurman Bell.

“It's a little bit different than when I was growing up,” Knebel said. “Just the amount of kids. We probably had close to 100 kids trying to play football at Roseburg. Between our varsity and JV at Douglas the last couple years, we were having a hard time getting 30. To me it's different.”

Increasing turnout will be key in reversing the fortunes at Douglas.

“Being a counselor now, just being around, getting to know all the kids a little bit better, I think that'll help a little bit, bringing some new bodies out,” Knebel said.

Douglas has gone 1-17 since dropping from 4A to 3A in 2018. The Trojans, 4A runners-up in 2010, haven't made the state playoffs since 2012.

“I think we've got to win some games, build some excitement,” Knebel said. “There's not a lot of excitement built around the football program right now. Winning a few games, showing the kids we can have fun and win, would be a big step.”

Weight training is an area of expertise for Knebel, who played in college at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds and tried out with the Baltimore Ravens. He said his weight training program at Douglas is similar to the one run by Jim Radcliffe at the University of Oregon.

“I feel like I've done a decent job of motivating these guys,” Knebel said. “We've had them out quite a bit this summer, when we can. They've been working hard.”

The Douglas coaching staff includes offensive coordinator Tyler Walker, a former Trojan, and defensive coordinator Nick Garcia, who has coached in the area for the past decade, primarily at Sutherlin but most recently at Douglas.

Knebel also has added two former Roseburg players in Micah Audiss and Brad Lander – who played at Oregon State and George Fox, respectively -- to the staff.

Will Knebel emulate some of Bell's coaching tactics at Douglas?

“He was tough, and I like to get tough,” Knebel said. “I'll probably be a little bit more laid back than he was. There are parts of the way he coached that I'll bring to the table, also.”

The Trojans will have a senior-dominated line but need to develop depth. Knebel said the strength of the team is senior quarterback Seth Christian and a talented receiving corps that features seniors Landen Lane, Tye Cross and Gavyn Jones.

Christian earned the starting quarterback job in 2019 but played most of the season at receiver after suffering a finger injury. An outstanding pitcher in baseball, he has a big arm and can run.

“I have a few kids that are all over 6-foot tall and run really well,” Knebel said. “I'm just hoping they can show that a little bit this year. I'm not quite sure what's held them back the last couple years. But there's a lot of potential there.”

Knebel lives in Sutherlin with his wife Ginny, daughters Cadence (12) and Maci (7) and son Eli (9).