The Anderson University athletics department, Athletic Director Marcie Taylor and Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach Carter Collins have named Dijon Knight as Anderson’s head men’s golf coach and assistant men’s basketball coach.
Knight arrives at Anderson after spending the last four years as an assistant men’s basketball coach at North Central College. Collins, who previously served in the role of Anderson head men’s golf coach/assistant men’s basketball coach, moved into the role of interim head men’s basketball coach in early September and will occupy that role for the 2022-23 season.
“I’m pleased Coach Dijon Knight is coming on board with the men’s basketball and golf programs,” Taylor said. “Coach Knight’s collegiate basketball coaching experience within a very competitive program and conference will be a positive for AU Athletics.”
During Knight’s four years at North Central, the Cardinals compiled a record of 68-26. During the 2018-19 season, North Central went 23-6 and captured the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament title. The Cardinals advanced to the second round of the NCAA D-III Tournament. North Central followed up in the 2019-20 season by finishing 23-5 and earning the CCIW regular-season crown. The Cardinals qualified for the NCAA D-III Tournament for the second year in a row and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both seasons of 23 wins tie a program record for most wins in a season. The Cardinals also advanced to the 2022 CCIW Championship game.
Knight has mentored Connor Raridon, a two-time all-American, as well as a 2020 consensus all-American and the 2020 CCIW Most Outstanding Player of the Year. Four players have also earned all-region honors at North Central during Knight’s tenure.
“I could not be happier with this opportunity to add Coach Knight to our coaching staff,” Collins said. “Coach Knight checks every box that I was looking for – he comes from a winning program at North Central, he was highly recommended by every coach he has worked with in the past, he will be excellent relationally with our current players and on the recruiting trail, and I believe his player development background will be essential to our program taking that next step. We have a unique program here at AU, and I believe that Coach Knight will fit in perfectly. Coach Knight also holds all of the same skills and abilities that I held as they relate to being the Head Coach of the Men’s Golf team, and he will be able to continue that program on the same trajectory that I started last year.”
Knight established the Midwest Dream Squad in 2015, which annually competes in ESPN’s The Basketball Tournament (TBT). He has served as the head coach/general manager since the team’s founding. Knight has coached the Chicago Lockdown for four years and established Ball Out LLC. He has also spent two years on the Next College Student Athlete (NCSA) as a scout coordinator.
Knight competed for the University of Indianapolis men’s basketball team from 2008-10 and started in 11 games as a senior. He spent the previous two years competing for Kaskaskia College.
Knight earned his Associate of Arts degree from Kaskaskia in 2008. He then graduated from the University of Indianapolis in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Marketing.
“I am honored to receive the opportunity to become a member of the Anderson University athletic program and community,” Knight said. “After four awesome years at North Central College which included one of the best runs in program history, winning the CCIW tournament championship in ’19, tying the program record for victories in a single season, CCIW championship in ’20, and two consecutive NCAA Division III Championship appearances capped by a Sweet 16 run in ’20. I’m grateful for my time spent at NCC, and experience gained. However, I’m eager to get started at AU, applying my relentless work ethic and passion for athletics to helping both the men’s basketball and men’s golf programs elevate and sustain success in the HCAC for years to come. I would like to thank the Director of Athletics Marcie Taylor and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Carter Collins for this amazing opportunity.”
https://athletics.anderson.edu/sports/mgolf/2022-23/releases/20221003k5u0ae
