Dijon Knight, 35, is joining the AU athletics staff as an assistant coach for the Men’s Basketball team and as the head coach for the Men’s Golf team. Knight replaces former Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach, Carter Collins who was just recently named the Interim Head Coach with Coach Owen Handy’s departure after 10 years at the helm.
When asking Knight about his first impressions of Anderson University, he had only good things to say. “My first time visiting and touring campus I was most impressed by the quality of facilities and overall size of campus”. Since Anderson is considered a small college, Knight added, “AU certainly has a big campus feel and top-notch athletic and campus environment.”
Knight played basketball at Kaskaskia College, a junior college in Illinois. In his two years at Kaskaskia, he averaged 6.6 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game and two assists per game, while being named team captain. Knight then transferred to the University of Indianapolis in Indiana.
After his playing career was over, Knight started his coaching career at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. He was the assistant basketball coach for the last four and a half years there and his team went 68-26.
Knight said he left his position with a successful North Central program in order to take “the next steps in my coaching journey with a well renowned institution.”
For Knight, central Indiana is like a “home away from home;” however, he is originally from Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Having played for the University of Indianapolis, Knight said he’s “thrilled to be back in the Indianapolis area near some family and close friends, with a program that is primed for success.”
“My specialty for basketball coaching is player development”, Knight said. “I am comfortable with working with players of all positions, but with a focus on guard skills.”
Knight will be transitioning into the Head Men’s Golf Coach at Anderson University along with his basketball role. Interim Head Coach Carter Collins will look to keep their continued success by reaching the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference playoffs for the 8th straight year and making it back to the semifinals for the third time in 11 years. From 2014-2020, the Ravens accumulated more conference wins in a six-year period since joining the NCAA D-III over 30 years ago.
The Men’s golf team under Collins had two top 4 finishes in the 2022-23 season. Coach Knight will look to improve the young team’s success with the conference tournament coming up in the spring of 2023. Knight said his golf specialty is in recruiting and networking with prospects.