Alan Knipe Position: Head Coach

Head Coach Alan Knipe heads into his eighth year in charge of the 49er men's volleyball program. The 2004 AVCA National Coach of the Year, Knipe led the 49ers to six consecutive trips to the MPSF Tournament, an appearance in the 2004 NCAA Championship match three straight MPSF Tournament finals appearances (2004-2006). Knipe has been the model of consistency as both a coach and player during his 16-year relationship with Long Beach State (13 years as a coach, three as a player).

In the summer of 2007 Knipe servee as the Head Coach for the United States squad which competed at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand, August 8-18. The squad, which featured current 49er Paul Lotman and former 49er Robert Tarr, took the bronze medal.

Knipe eclipsed the 100-victory plateau on January 6, 2006 with a win over Cal State Northridge. He currently stands at 132-82 through seven years for an impressive .617 winning percentage. Playing in the toughest men's volleyball conference in the nation, the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF), Knipe is 84-65 for a .564 winning percentage. In 1999, 2000, and 2001, the 49ers won their division title in the MPSF.

In 2006 the 49ers went 23-10, were ranked No. 1 in the nation for several weeks and advanced to the championship match of the MPSF Tournament for the third consecutive year. Knipe had a trio of All-Americans on hand in Tyler Hildebrand, Duncan Budinger and Robert Tarr to lead the 49er attack. All three left their names imbedded in the 49er record books.

In the 2005 campaign Knipe molded a young squad into one of the best in the country by season's end. The 49ers finished the year at 22-10, but beginning in March won 13 of its next 15 games before falling to No. 1-ranked Pepperdine in the finals of the MPSF Tournament. Last season also saw juniors Tyler Hildebrand and Robert Tarr earn first team AVCA All-America honors.

In 2004, Knipe guided his squad to a 28-7 record and an appearance in the NCAA Championship match in Hawaii. Under Knipe, a total of four players earned All-America distinctions, including three first Team AVCA All-American selections: Tyler Hildebrand, Scott Touzinsky, and David Lee. Jeff Wootton was a Volleyball Magazine All-American selection. The season's last award went to Knipe, as the National Coach of the Year.

Knipe plans on continuing the success the 49ers have had in recent years. A tireless recruiter, Knipe has brought in some of the nation's top recruiting classes over the last eight years. The 1998 and 2000 classes were both considered the best in the nation as was his 2006 class.

Hired on May 30, 2000, Knipe has led the 49ers to six straight post-seasons, an MPSF Pacific Division Title in 2001, and an NCAA Championship appearance in 2004. Knipe served as the 49ers Associate Head Coach in 2000 and as an assistant coach from 1996-99.

For several years (1999-2006), Knipe has been the head coach and Director of the USA Volleyball Development Camp.

An All-American collegiate player, Knipe played at Long Beach State under Ray Ratelle from 1990-92. In his 12 years at Long Beach State (three as a player, nine as a coach) the 49ers have won 269 of their 348 matches (77%). In the summer of 1999, Knipe was an assistant to fellow 49er staffer Andy Read on the U.S. Youth Junior National Team.

As a player, Knipe was a major reason why the 49ers advanced to the 1990 NCAA final and won the 1991 NCAA Championship. The 49ers downed USC in the 1991 title match in Honolulu, HI as Knipe tallied 16 kills, nine digs, eight blocks and hit .636 (16-2-22) as The Beach won in four games over the Trojans.

Knipe received numerous honors during his collegiate career, including all-conference (first team, 1992), All-America (first team, 1992; second team, 1991) and All-NCAA Tournament (1991). His single season hitting percentage of .433 in 1991 ranks sixth on the all-time Long Beach State list, while his career mark of .412 ranks sixth.

In the 1994 and 1995 seasons, Knipe served as the head men's volleyball coach at Golden West College, where his teams amassed a two-year match record of 28-14. In his second season, the Rustlers won the California State JC title and Knipe was named California State Coach of the Year.

After leaving Long Beach State as a player, Knipe played for the United States National Team in 1992 and 1993, played on the Bud Light 4-Man Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, and won six USVBA National Open Championships (1993, 1994, 2000, `02, `03, and most recently in 2006) with Team Paul Mitchell. In 1993, he was named the United States Volleyball Association Player of the Year. In 1995, Knipe played for Spoleto in the Italian Pro League and in 1996 he played for the Zellik Club in Belgium.

A local product who graduated from Huntington Beach's Marina High School in 1987, Knipe spent one year at Orange Coast College before transferring to Long Beach.

In October of `06, Knipe was inducted into the inaugural Long Beach State Men's Volleyball "Wall of Honor", awarded to former players who represented Long Beach State men's volleyball with unparallel success or achievement.

A 1992 graduate of Long Beach State with a degree in speech communications, Knipe, born on January 1, 1969, resides with his wife, Jennifer, and their two sons, Aidan and Evan in Huntington Beach.

Year Record MPSF Post-Season 2007 11-17 6-16 2006 23-10 14-8 MPSF Finals 2005 22-10 14-8 MPSF Finals 2004 28-7 18-4 NCAA Runner-Up 2003 17-13 11-11 MPSF Quarterfinals 2002 13-18 9-13 MPSF Quarterfinals 2001 18-7 12-5 MPSF Semifinals Totals 132-82 (.617) 84-65 (.564)