Coach Lela Knight is joining the ACS team in the fall of 2024. Coach Lela was born in Nanning, China and came to the United States in 2009. She received her Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Minor in Coaching and Business Administration from Chowan University. She received her master’s degree in Coaching and Sport Leadership from Randolph College.

Coach Lela’s passion for sports began when she competed in a track event when she was 5 years old. She continued with competitive cross country racing in middle school and high school earning a four-year scholarship during her college years. During college, she used her cross country skills on the lacrosse team.

For the past two years, Coach Lela has been a PE teacher for a private school in Chapel Hill teaching 1st - 6th grade students. In her spare time, Coach Lela likes to run, cook, spend time with her fiancé, family and friends, and her dog Starbie. Coach Lela is looking forward to what this year holds for her young athletes.