Randall Knox Hired As Men's Tennis Assistant Coach
7/19/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
SPOKANE, Wash. - Randall Knox, an Athens, Ala., native, has been hired by Gonzaga University men's tennis coach Peter MacDonald as the first full-time assistant coach in program history Friday.
Knox, with more than a decade of coaching experience, has previously served as a men's assistant coach with Samford University, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Georgia State University.
"I am very excited to have Randall added to the staff," MacDonald said. "He comes highly recommended from some of the greatest coaches in college tennis. I believe Randall will contribute both on and off the court as a coach and he certainly will help us reach the next level."
Knox began his coaching career in 2004 when he was an assistant for Samford's men's team. After five seasons at Samford, Knox took a coaching role with UAB for the 2009-2010 season. The next year he moved on to Georgia State where he served as an assistant.
"I consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to be a part of the Gonzaga athletic department and the community to support the Zags," Knox stated. "I would like to thank Peter and the entire department for giving me this opportunity. I look forward to helping the men's tennis program compete at the highest levels in Division I tennis. We have a lot of work to do and I cannot wait to get started."
While at Samford, Knox helped coach the 2007 team to its inaugural Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth. He also coached three first team all-conference players and Renan Silveira, the conference freshman of the year. At UAB he assisted with two second team All-Conference USA players. With Georgia State he helped coach with a first and a second team All-Colonial Athletic Association player.
Prior to his coaching days, Knox was a successful player as a three-time state champion at Athens High School. He went on to play for Northwest-Shoals Community College in 1995 where he was named as an All-American second teamer.
The next season Knox transferred to the University of Memphis and played for the Tigers for the 1996-1997 season.
Knox then went on to become the manager of the University of Alabama men's team in 1999 after transferring from Memphis. He graduated from Alabama in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.
Most recently, Knox has served as teaching professional at the YMCA of Buckland in Atlanta, Ga.
During his tenure at the YMCA, Knox coached several Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association and United State Tennis Association teams that won city championships in their respective levels of play. However, Knox eagerly awaits his return to collegiate tennis coaching.
"Our goal is to help Gonzaga become a contender in the West Coast Conference," Knox said. "We want to become a nationally ranked program and qualify for the NCAA's as soon as possible. With the addition of a brand new tennis facility and the support of the athletic department, I am positive we can meet these goals."
Knox is married to Dr. Priya Patel-Knox.
