Coaching with Joy: Alex Knight’s Coaching Debut at UCLA

Back in Pauley Pavilion—but this time, on the sideline.

For Alex Knight, the familiar walk into Pauley now carries a different weight and a deeper joy. After five seasons on the court as a Bruin—marked by two national championships, three years as team captain, the 2023 NCAA Championship Most Outstanding Player honor, and 109 career matches—Knight has returned to Westwood in a new capacity: assistant coach for UCLA men’s volleyball.

UCLA head coach John Hawks announced the hire with unmistakable enthusiasm. “Alex is a Bruin through and through,” Hawks said. “He brings a winning pedigree, a professional mindset, and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed at the highest level. I can’t wait to see the impact he will make on the young men in our program.”

For Knight, the return feels both natural and purposeful. “My time as a student-athlete was a dream come true,” he shared. “But I know there is unfinished business for me in Westwood. I’m excited to step into this role and help bring more national championships home.”

From the Court to the Clipboard

Knight’s playing résumé speaks for itself. Between 2020 and 2024, he appeared in 109 matches for the Bruins, contributing as both an outside hitter and libero. As an outside, he totaled 635 career kills, highlighted by a breakout 2023 season in which he recorded 257 kills with a .332 hitting percentage—earning AVCA Second-Team All-American and MPSF First-Team honors.

That same year, Knight delivered one of the most memorable performances in UCLA volleyball history. In the 2023 NCAA Championship match against Hawai‘i, he posted 15 kills en route to 21 in the tournament final and was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as UCLA captured its 20th national title.

In 2024, his role shifted, and once again, Knight delivered—this time anchoring the back row as libero during the Bruins’ postseason run. He played every set of the NCAA Tournament as UCLA secured its 21st national championship, exemplifying adaptability, humility, and team-first leadership.

Following his collegiate career, Knight took his game overseas, competing professionally in Germany with SWD Powervolleys Düren in the Bundesliga. In 2025, he helped guide the club to the German Cup finals and a sixth-place league finish—experience that further sharpened his perspective on preparation, professionalism, and pressure.

Coaching the Mental Game

Now on staff, Knight brings more than technical expertise. Having lived the demands of championship volleyball, he is uniquely equipped to coach the mental and emotional side of the game—especially in high-pressure moments.

“Alex understands what it feels like to be out there when everything is on the line,” one staff member noted. “He knows how vision, chemistry, and work ethic translate into wins.”

His responsibilities include teaching block defense, passing systems, out-of-system attacking, and the finer points that separate good teams from championship teams. But equally important is his influence off the stat sheet: helping players build confidence, resilience, and joy in the pursuit of excellence.

Building Community Beyond the Court

Knight’s role extends well beyond practice and match day. He is deeply involved in alumni relations, media engagement, and cultivating a sense of community around the program—connecting past, present, and future Bruins.

He is especially grateful to be working under Coach Hawks, who recruited him and coached him during his playing days, as well as alongside Milan Zarkovic and Lindsay Brown. “Learning from this staff has been incredibly rewarding,” Knight said. “There’s a shared commitment to excellence and to developing young men the right way.”

Reconnecting with UCLA’s broader athletic ecosystem has also been meaningful. From strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers to academic counselors and administrators, Knight feels at home once again in the Morgan Center—a place where relationships matter and success is built collaboratively.

A Bruin Through and Through

UCLA is not just where Alex Knight played and studied—earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees—it is part of his family story. His parents and older sister attended UCLA, his younger sister is a current UCLA student and a manager of the women's beach volleyball team, and his grandfather worked at the university. Bruin blue runs deep.

As UCLA men’s volleyball looks ahead to the 2026 season—fresh off another strong year that included a third straight NCAA Championship match appearance, a third consecutive MPSF regular-season title, and multiple AVCA All-Americans—Knight’s return signals continuity, ambition, and joy.

Back in Pauley Pavilion, Alex Knight is once again helping shape championship volleyball at UCLA. Only now, his influence reaches even further—from the sideline, the locker room, and the heart of a program he proudly calls home.