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New Basketball Coaches Vow to Lead Program Further
Ioana Patringenaru | June 18, 2007
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| Earl Edwards |
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UCSD’s two new basketball coaches pledged to build upon the program’s success and take their teams further during a press conference held Friday on campus.
Chris Carlson was hired last week to coach the men’s basketball team. He comes from UCLA, a Division I program, where he was the head of basketball operations and worked closely with head coach Ben Howland. He replaces Bill Carr, who left to become assistant head coach at the University of San Diego.
Charity Elliott was hired earlier this month to coach the women’s team. She comes from Portland State University, where she was the head coach of a Division I program. She replaces Coach Janell Jones, who led the women’s basketball team to its best season in history and a semifinal spot in the NCAA’s Division II national post-season tournament, known as the Elite Eight. Jones accepted a head coach position at Mercer University in Macon, Ga., a Division I program.
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| Charity Elliot |
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Between the two of them, Elliott and Carlson have about three decades of experience at the college level, said UCSD Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards. Their experience will help boost the quality and success of the campus’ basketball programs, he said. On the women’s side, the goal is continue a successful track record, Edwards said. On the men’s side, the goal is to go on to post-season play, he added. Both Carlson and Elliott are well connected in San Diego and California, which will help with recruiting, Edwards also said.
During their interviews, both coaches talked about their willingness to work with student athletes for whom academics are a priority, Edwards said. Elliott and Carlson both touched on the subject at Friday’s press conference.
“It is truly an honor to be part of such excellence,” Elliott said.
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| Chris Carlson |
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UCSD produces the ideal student-athlete, she also said. She joked that she couldn’t even pronounce the name of some of the classes her students are taking. Elliott said she would look for toughness in her players.
“I will challenge these students, I will push them and I will stretch them,” she said.
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox and Edwards are working to realize the program’s promise and potential, Carlson said. He pledged to stay focused. “It starts and ends with the players and their growth,” he said. He added he planned to put an emphasis on competition. UCSD is one of the top institutions in the nation and the world, he said.
“There’s an unbelievable sense of achievement and commitment and excellence that courses through the department,” Carlson said.
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