The Loudoun Knights are happy to announce Jon Wilkins as the 14U AA Head Coach for the 2024-2025 season. The 14U AA team will be eligible to qualify for the USA Hockey Tier 2 Nationals and will compete in the CBHL National Conference and the EJEPL 14U Diamond Division.

Jon was born and raised in Torrance, CA and started playing hockey at age 5. He was fortunate to play under many great coaches that shaped him as a player and person, but in particular a former professional player named Steve Cook. Under Steve's tutelage, Jon played for the LA Jr Kings, and was selected to play for the Bismarck Bobcats, a Junior A team in North Dakota.

"Jon's life in hockey as both a player and coach, combined with his decorated career in the Marine Corps embodies everything you could ask for as a leader and mentor," says Knights Hockey, Director Craig Desjarlais. "Jon has been deeply invested in the Knights organization the last 2 seasons as an Associate Head Coach, and this will be a seamless transition into a well deserved head coaching role. Jon will utilize his professional experience to develop a strong team culture, individual and team accountability, proper training habits, leadership and performance".

Jon started coaching in 2017, coaching 8U in Kansas, 10U in Florida, and most recently here with the Knights at 12U and 14U. After graduating from UCLA in 2005, Jon joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Jon's experience in the infantry units in the Marine Corps has given him the tools necessary to develop individuals, teams and organizations.

This will be Jon's 8th consecutive year coaching hockey, and more impressively his 20th year as a Marine. Coach Wilkins says "I look forward to building a team that is tough, disciplined and dynamic."