Minnesota United announced today that interim head coach Cameron Knowles will become a permanent first-team assistant coach under new Loons’ head coach Eric Ramsay.
Cameron Knowles, a native of New Zealand, recently served as MNUFC’s interim head coach since January, where he had successfully prepared the team for its upcoming 2024 MLS regular season and coached the team during its first three matches of the campaign. In those three matches, Knowles led the squad to an undefeated 2-0-1 (W-L-D) record, including two road victories. As it stands, Knowles has the Loons sitting second place in the Western Conference and third in the overall Major League Soccer standings.
“I’m looking forward to joining Eric’s staff and continuing to work with the first team. The commitment and character the players have shown to date, and the diligent work of all the staff involved, provides a foundation for us to build on,” said Assistant Coach Cameron Knowles. “With Khaled’s vision and Eric’s leadership the next chapter for MNUFC will be an exciting one to be a part of.”
“Cameron stepped into a leadership role and prepared our first team ahead of the season and has handled everything with professionalism and passion. He provided a consistency during a time of transition for the club. Cameron’s alignment and belief in the vision for this club will continue to strengthen our squad in the future while he serves as an assistant coach,” said MNUFC Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Khaled El-Ahmad. “His ability to connect and communicate with players at all levels across the club will positively impact the development of all our players, and ultimately the success of our club. I want to thank Cameron for his willingness to head the team these past few months and I am excited to see his continued development and impact while working alongside Eric Ramsay.”
Prior to his time as a first-team assistant coach and the interim head coach, Cameron Knowles was the head coach of Minnesota United’s MLS NEXT Pro team, MNUFC2, from 2022-2023 and was the video analyst for the Loons’ first team in 2021.
Before arriving in Minnesota, Knowles spent nine years as a coach with the Portland Timbers, beginning with the 2012 MLS season. In those nine years, six were spent as an assistant coach, winning an MLS Cup in 2015 and three years as head coach for the Portland Timbers 2 team that competed in the USL Championship.
Cameron Knowles’ professional playing career spanned from 2004-11, where he featured for Chicago Fire Premier, Real Salt Lake, Portland Timbers – pre-MLS – and the Montreal Impact (CF Montreal), totaling 103 game appearances in his professional career. He notably made 77 of those game appearances with the Timbers, a side he later would become a coach for following the club’s entry into Major League Soccer.
Knowles holds a USSF Pro License and has a Master’s Degree in Psychology.
