Skip to content
Mater Dei head coach Gary McKnight
Mater Dei head coach Gary McKnight

Mater Dei boys basketball coach Gary McKnight on Friday was named Naismith Boys Basketball High School Coach of the Year.

Earlier this season McKnight received the Morgan Wooten Award for Lifetime Achievement.

McKnight is in his 32nd season coaching Mater Dei basketball. His record is 990-85, and his winning percentage of 92 is the highest in the nation in high school boys basketball history.

The Monarchs will try for their 22nd CIF-Southern Section championship during McKnight’s tenure today when they play Chino Hills in the Open Division final at Honda Center. McKnight’s Mater Dei teams have won 10 state championships, including the past three years in a row.

McKnight said he received a flurry of congratulatory messages from past players Friday.

“Like I said to them, ‘It’s all because I had players like you guys,’” he said. “I just really enjoy what I do. I have a dream job.”