Both the UCSD men’s and women’s basketball teams had successful campaigns last season, but were left at the end of the year without a head coach when men’s third-year head coach Bill Carr and women’s second-year head coach Janell Jones both accepted positions at other schools. However, the coaching vacancies have now reportedly been filled. At a press conference to be held next week, Chris Carlson will be named head coach of the men’s team and Charity Elliot will be named head coach of the women’s team.
“”We are thrilled that these two outstanding candidates have agreed to lead our respective basketball programs,”” Associate Athletics Director David Wahlstrom said. “”Everyone involved with this national search is confident that both coaches will recruit and retain motivated student-athletes who will produce positive results in the classroom and on the court.””
Carlson has served as UCLA’s director of basketball operations for the past four seasons, taking responsibility of day-to-day operations for a Bruins team that reached the championship game of the NCAA tournament in 2006 and advanced to the Final Four last season. Carlson, a San Diego native, also worked three years at Northern Arizona University and served as an assistant coach from 1991 to ’93 at Dos Pueblos High School. Following his graduation from UCSB in ’93, Carlson served as an assistant coach at his alma mater for four years. Carlson attended high school at nearby La Mesa Helix High, which produced NBA Hall of Famer Bill Walton. Carlson also earned All-League Basketball honors.
Charity Elliot has been head coach of D-I Portland State University for the past three seasons. After posting a 3-23 record overall during her first season on the bench and 1-13 in the Big Sky Conference, Elliot led the Vikings to a tremendous turnaround – the team went 12-16, 6-8 in conference, during the 2005-06 season. The Vikings were impressive again this season, with a 12-18 overall record and 8-8 mark in conference play, advancing to their second consecutive Big Sky Tournament. Elliot was also head coach of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member California Baptist University, leading the Lancers to a 16-16 record in her second season that ended a string of 10 consecutive losing seasons. As a player, Elliot played two seasons at Rice University and two seasons at Southwest Missouri State University, helping the Bears to their first NCAA Final Four in ’92 and earning Southwest Missouri State University’s Woman of the Year award. Locally, Elliot was an assistant coach at San Diego State University during the 1993-94 season, helping the Aztecs to a 26-5 record and NCAA tournament berth.
“”Everyone is really excited for [Elliot],”” junior forward Alexis Mezzetta said. “”She seems like she’s going to be a really intense coach, and I think that’s going to be good to push us in the right direction. I think the fact that she has been a head coach, she’s been there for awhile, she has a lot of experience, set her apart [from the other candidates].””
Both coaches will be taking over rising teams, with the men’s basketball team having completed its second double-digit win season since the move to Division II, and the Triton women having put together their best year in UCSD history by winning the California Collegiate Athletic Association and West Regional Championships and advancing to the NCAA D-II Final Four.
Carr, following his third season at the helm of the men’s basketball team, accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of San Diego. Carr joins the staff of new Toreros head coach Bill Grier after compiling a 38-45 record with the Tritons. Jones accepted the head coaching position at D-I Mercer University in Macon, Ga., where she will be joined by associate head coach Todd Eilert, after going 50-10 in two seasons at UCSD and setting new single-season records for wins each year. Jones was named CCAA Coach of the Year this season, leading the Tritons to a 27-5 overall record. The coaching departures came as a surprise to the respective teams.
“”I was in disbelief when Coach Carr left,”” said sophomore starting forward Henry Patterson, an All-CCAA member the past two seasons, adding that he respects Carr’s decision. “”It was abrupt and short. There was no introduction, no sugar coating, just short, quick and to the point.””
The names of the two new UCSD coaches will be officially released on Friday, and both Carlson and Elliot are scheduled to be at the introductory press conference. The two will be the first UCSD basketball coaches to have athletics scholarships available as they recruit new athletes.