Gym floor dedicated in honor of Coach Steve Knight
William Carey University officially renamed the court in Clinton Gym after long-time head coach Steve Knight in a pregame ceremony on December 2, 2017.
Knight began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Carey in the spring of 1981 and was named head men's basketball coach in July 1982 at the age of 25. His Crusader teams have compiled 19 seasons with 20+ wins, captured six GCAC championships, six District 30 championships, two Southern States Athletic Conference regular season titles, one SSAC tournament championship and have competed in 11 NAIA national tournaments. Knight has coached nine NAIA All-Americans, including one NAIA National Player of the Year, Jarekus Singleton. He was named NAIA District 30 Coach of the Year three times, GCAC Coach of the Year five times, and SSAC Coach of the Year four times.
"I appreciate very much the honor of having my name on the basketball court at Clinton Gym,” said Knight. “William Carey University has been great to me, and coaching basketball has provided me and my family with a lifetime of wonderful memories. I am most fortunate to have been able to spend my entire coaching career surrounded by such outstanding people."
In 2015, Knight was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and is the state of Mississippi's all-time winningest basketball coach with 659 career wins. He currently ranks 4th nationally among NAIA active coaches.
Knight also served as the director of intercollegiate athletics from 1987-2016. During his tenure, the Carey athletic program almost tripled the number of sport offerings from five in 1987 to 17 in 2016. Since 1987, William Carey athletic teams have captured 33 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championships, four Southern States Athletic Conference Championships and have earned more than 40 trips to NAIA national tournaments.
"There is no one more deserving of this honor than Coach Knight," said WCU Athletic Director DJ Pulley. "His record speaks for itself. The impact he has had on William Carey University and all of the student-athletes he has coached is truly remarkable."
Following the ceremony, the Crusaders took on rival University of Mobile and capped off the evening with a 98-81 win.
