Gary McKnight
Mater Dei High School
Impact Statement
“I get on the freeway at Mission Viejo and I enjoy doing it and as long as I enjoy doing it, I’m gonna do it.” -Gary McKnight
Biography
Coach McKnight, who has a .921 winning percentage in 32 seasons as the head coach at Mater Dei, led the Monarchs to their fourth straight California state championship this past season.
McKnight led Mater Dei to a perfect 35-0 record during the 2013-14 season, and now owns 995 overall victories, which puts him 13th on the all-time wins list, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
McKnight’s teams have won 31 league titles, 22 Southern Section titles and 11 overall state titles. Each of his last ten teams have won 30 games or more.
Since being honored, McKnight has continued to add to his accolades. In December of 2014, McKnight notched his 1,000th career victory. As of February 28, 2020, he now boasts a career record of 1161-117. His records makes him the second winningest coach based on his record and his winning percentage.
Additionally, his teams have won 36 league titles in his 39 years. Mater Dei also claims 23 CIF-SS Championships and 11 State titles.
McKnight was honored as the 2014’s Morgan Wooten Award for Lifetime Achievement in Coaching High School Basketball by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He was nominated to be inducted in to this hall of fame in 2019.
Photos
