Three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Alan Knipe has created a winning culture at Long Beach State. A living part of Long Beach State men\u2019s volleyball history, Knipe is the only person in program history to have been a part of all four LBSU National Championships.
\n\u00a0
\nKnipe was a player on the 1991 squad that captured the program\u2019s first-ever National Title, before coming back to his alma mater as a head coach and leading the Beach to the school\u2019s first-ever back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2018 and 2019.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 2025, Knipe added a new chapter to his legacy, guiding Long Beach State to a 30-3 overall record on the way to the program\u2019s fourth NCAA National Championship with a 3-0 sweep of UCLA behind National Player of the Year and worldwide sensation Moni Nikolov.
\n\u00a0
\nIn 22 seasons at the helm of the Long Beach State men\u2019s volleyball program, Knipe has guided the Beach to ten NCAA Final Fours \u2013 eight in the last nine seasons \u2013 three Big West Conference tournament championships, 13 MPSF tournament appearances, six Big West Tournament appearances, and four NCAA Championships.
\n\u00a0
\nUnder Knipe\u2019s tutelage, Long Beach State has posted a 450-172 record as Knipe boasts a .723 winning percentage. In conference action, the Beach is 249-124 (.668) with Knipe on the bench. He has served as head coach of the Beach since 2001, with a brief hiatus after the 2009 season from 2009-12 in which he coached the U.S. Men\u2019s National Team.
\n\u00a0
\nAs head coach of the Beach, Knipe has coached eight National Players of the Year in Moni Nikolov (AVCA, 2025), Alex Nikolov (AVCA, 2022), Josh Tuaniga (AVCA, 2018), TJ DeFalco, (AVCA, 2017 & 2019) Taylor Crabb (AVCA, 2013), Paul Lotman (AVCA, 2008) and Tyler Hildebrand (Volleyball Magazine, 2006). Additionally, Knipe has coached 81 All-America selections, 43 All-Big West Conference selections, and 58 All-MPSF selections.
\n\u00a0
\nNamed AVCA Coach of the Year in 2004, 2017, and 2018, Knipe was named conference Coach of the Year for the fifth time in 2024 (Big West-2018, 2019, 2024\/MPSF-2008, 2017).
\n\u00a0
\nDuring his tenure as head coach of the U.S. Men\u2019s National Team, Knipe guided the Americans to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympic Games in London as they advanced to the knockout round after finishing first in Pool B, which also featured Brazil and Russia, who were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, respectively.
\n\u00a0
\nWith Knipe at the helm, the United States also qualified for the World League Finals on three occasions (2009, 2011 and 2012). In 2012, they claimed the FIVB World League silver medal, marking their second-best finish since the World League began in 1990. Additionally, the U.S. won the gold medal at the 2012 NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament, securing their eighth consecutive berth to the Olympics.
\n\u00a0
\nKnipe played three years (1990-92) at Long Beach State under Ray Ratelle, where he was a key member of the 1991 National Championship team. In the 1991 title match, Knipe racked up 16 kills, nine digs, eight blocks and hit .636 (16-2-22) as LBSU topped USC, 3-1.
\n\u00a0
\nAs a student-athlete at LBSU, Knipe received numerous honors including all-conference (First Team, 1992), All-American (First Team, 1992; Second Team, 1991) and All-NCAA Tournament (1991) accolades. He also helped the Beach advance to the 1990 NCAA Finals.
\n\u00a0
\nKnipe continued his playing career following his graduation from Long Beach State as he was a member of the United States National Team from 1992-93. He also played on the Bud Light 4-Man Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and won seven USVB National Open Championships with Team Paul Mitchell. In 1993, he was named the United States Volleyball Association Player of the Year. Two years later, Knipe played overseas for Spoleto in the Italian Pro League and played for the Zellik Club in Belgium the following year.
\n\u00a0
\nIn October 2006, Knipe was inducted into the inaugural Long Beach State Men\u2019s Volleyball Wall of Honor which recognizes former players who represented Long Beach State men\u2019s volleyball with unparalleled success or achievement. He was also inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
\n\u00a0
\nKnipe graduated from Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., and spent one year at Orange Coast College before transferring to Long Beach State, where he received his bachelor\u2019s degree in speech communications in 1992.
\n\u00a0
\nKnipe and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Aidan and Evan.<\/p>\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tSeason
\n\t\t\tSchool
\n\t\t\tOverall
\n\t\t\tConference
\n\t\t\tPostseason
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2001
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t18-7
\n\t\t\t12-5 (T1st)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Semifinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2002
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t13-18
\n\t\t\t9-13 (7th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Quarterfinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2003
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t17-13
\n\t\t\t11-11 (8th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Quarterfinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2004
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t28-7
\n\t\t\t18-4 (2nd)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Finals
\n\t\t\tMPSF Finals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2005
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t22-10
\n\t\t\t14-8 (5th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Finals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2006
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t23-10
\n\t\t\t14-8 (T4th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Finals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2007
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t11-17
\n\t\t\t6-16 (10th)
\n\t\t\tNone
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2008
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t23-7
\n\t\t\t18-4 (T1st)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Semifinals
\n\t\t\tMPSF Semifinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2009
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t14-14
\n\t\t\t11-11 (7th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Quarterfinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2013
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t24-8
\n\t\t\t18-6 (T2nd)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Finals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2014
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t18-10
\n\t\t\t15-9 (T5th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Quarterfinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2015
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t15-13
\n\t\t\t11-11 (7th)
\n\t\t\tMPSF Quarterfinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2016
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t25-8
\n\t\t\t17-5 (T2nd)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Semifinals
\n\t\t\tMPSF Semifinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2017
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t27-4
\n\t\t\t16-2 (T1st)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Semifinals
\n\t\t\tMPSF Champions
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2018
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t28-1
\n\t\t\t9-1 (1st)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Champions
\n\t\t\tBig West Champions
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2019
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t28-2
\n\t\t\t10-0 (1st)
\n\t\t\tNCAA Champions
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2020
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t10-1
\n\t\t\tN\/A
\n\t\t\tAbbreviated season due to COVID-19
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2021
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t7-5
\n\t\t\t6-4 (3rd)
\n\t\t\tBig West Semifinals
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2022
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t21-6
\n\t\t\t8-2 (1st)
\n\t\t\tBig West Semifinals
\n\t\t\tNCAA Finalists
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2023
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t21-5
\n\t\t\t9-1 (T1st)
\n\t\t\tBig West Semifinals
\n\t\t\tNCAA Semifinalists
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2024
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t27-3
\n\t\t\t9-1 (1st)
\n\t\t\tBig West Champions
\n\t\t\tNCAA Finalists
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t2025
\n\t\t\tLong Beach State
\n\t\t\t30-3
\n\t\t\t8-2 (1st)
\n\t\t\tBig West Champions
\n\t\t\tNCAA Champions
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTOTAL
\n\t\t\t(22\u00a0Seasons)
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t450-172 (.723)
\n\t\t\t249-124 (.668)
\n\t\t\t3 NCAA Championships
\n\t\t\t10 NCAA Appearances
\n\t\t
\n\t
<\/p>\n
\nKNIPE AT THE BEACH
\n14 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
\n2025 – NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
\n2024 \u2013 NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)\u00a0
\n2023\u00a0\u2013 NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
\n2022 \u2013 NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)
\n2019 – NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
\n2018 \u2013 NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
\n2017 \u2013 NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
\n2016 – NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
\n2008 – NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
\n2004 – NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)
\n1999 – NCAA Finalists (Assistant Coach)
\n1991 – NCAA Champions (Player)
\n1990 – NCAA Finalists (Player)<\/p>\n
8\u00a0NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
\nMoni Nikolov – 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nAlex Nikolov – 2022 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nTJ DeFalco – 2019 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nJosh Tuaniga \u2013 2018 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nJosh Tuaniga and TJ DeFalco \u2013 2018 VolleyballMag.com Co-Players of the Year
\nTJ DeFalco \u2013 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nTaylor Crabb – 2013 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nPaul Lotman – 2008 AVCA National Player of the Year
\nTyler Hildebrand – 2006 Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year<\/p>\n
KNIPE’S EXPERIENCE
\nU.S. MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM COACH
\n2012 London Olympics
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\t2012 Quarterfinalists
\n\tFinished 1st in Pool B (Pool included No. 1 Brazil and No. 2 Russia)
<\/p>\n
\n3 World League Finals<\/p>\n
\n\t2012 Silver Medalists
\n\t2011
\n\t2009
<\/p>\n
\nNORCECA Continential Olympic Qualification<\/p>\n
KNIPE’S LONG BEACH STATE COACHING HIGHLIGHTS
\n2025 NCAA Title 2019 NCAA Title
\n2018 NCAA Title
\n2004, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025 NCAA National Championship appearances
\n2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025\u00a0NCAA Final Fours
\n2004, 2017, 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year
\n2018, 2019, 2024 Big West Conference Coach of the Year
\n2008, 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year
\n2018 VolleyMob Coach of the Year
\n2 Big West Tournament Championships
\n1 MPSF Tournament Championship
\n7 Big West Championship Appearances
\n13 MPSF Tournament Appearances
\n7 AVCA National Players of the Year
\n3 AVCA Newcomers of the Year<\/p>\n
KNIPE’S PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS
\nLong Beach State (1990-92)
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\t1991 National Champions
\n\t1990 NCAA Finalists
<\/p>\n
U.S. Men’s National Team (1992-93)<\/p>\n
Bud Light 4-Man Pro Beach Tour (1993-96)
\n
\n<\/p>\n
\n\t7 USVBA National Open Champions
\n\t1993 USVBA Player of the Year
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Alan Knipe has created a winning culture at Long Beach State.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3372,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[131,133,132],"class_list":["post-79720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79720","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}