Nov. 23, 2010
SAN DIEGO - Carlos Knox, a former professional basketball player and head coach, has been named an assistant coach for the San Diego State women's basketball team, Aztec head coach Beth Burns announced Tuesday.
"Coach Knox is a high-energy person with a wealth of basketball experience both as a player and a coach," Burns said. "He comes highly recommended from WNBA/NBA circles. He is very accomplished in player development and will hit the ground running. Our players are excited and our staff is appreciative that he was able to join us so quickly. He is committed to taking full advantage of the opportunity, and we are confident he will be a huge addition to our team."
Knox comes to the Aztecs from the WNBA's Indiana Fever, where he was an assistant under head coach Lin Dunn, helping the team with video editing, practice planning, player development and scouting. He also served a one-year stint with the Fever from 2008-09, as a volunteer assistant coach in player development.
"I'm very excited to be at San Diego State and work with a legendary coach like Beth Burns," Knox said. "The team seems to display a great work ethic and that's what I'm about - working hard. I anticipate our team making tremendous strides this year."
Knox played collegiately at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) from 1994-98, where he was a three-time All-American, two-time NCAA scoring champion and NCAA Division II Player of the Year for the Jaguars. The 6-2 guard finished his career with all of the school's major scoring records, including career points (2,556), single-season points (927), single-game points (51), single-season scoring average (32.0) and career scoring average (30.1). He is one of only two IUPUI student-athletes and the only men's basketball player in school history to have his jersey retired (No. 34) and has already been inducted into the IUPUI Hall of Fame (Class of 2004).
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1998, he played professionally with the Indiana Pacers, before moving overseas where he competed in four different countries over a three-year span from 1999-2002.
From there, Knox served as an assistant men's coach at his alma mater during the 2001-02 campaign, helping to recruit George Hill, who went on to become the only player in IUPUI history to be drafted into the NBA.
The Dayton, Ohio, native has been a head men's coach in the CBA for the Indiana Alley Cats and Pittsburgh Xplosion, a head coach in the IBL for the Dayton Jets and spent 2009-10 as a head coach in the Saudi Arabia League (Division 1), where he led Club Al Hilal to a 20-4 record and a third-place finish in the playoffs.
Knox has also worked with NBA and WNBA players to develop their basketball skills, as well as rehabilitate from injury. His previous clients include Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas from the Indiana Fever, as well as NBA players Andrew Owens, George Hill, Daquean Cook and Zach Randolph.
He replaces associate head coach Mark Trakh, who left San Diego State to attend to personal family matters.
San Diego State continues its 2010-11 campaign with its third consecutive home game Tuesday against UC Irvine at 7 p.m. at Viejas Arena.
The Carlos Knox File
Hometown Dayton, Ohio
High School
Meadowdale
Alma Mater
IUPUI, 1998
Playing Experience
1999-2002
Croatia, Germany, Italy and Venezuela Professional Leagues
1998-99
Indiana Pacers
1994-98
IUPUI
Work Experience
2010
WNBA's Indiana Fever (Assistant Coach)
2009-10
Club Al Hilal - Saudi Arabia Division I League (Head Coach)
2008-09
WNBA's Indiana Fever (Volunteer Assistant Coach/Player Development)
2007-08
CBA's Pittsburgh Xplosion (Head Coach)
2006-07
CBA's Indiana Alley Cats (Head Coach)
2005-06
ABA's Indiana Alley Cats (Assistant Coach)
2004-05
IBL's Dayton Jets (Head Coach)
2001-02
IUPUI (Men's Assistant Coach)