Head Coach - Mitch Charlens

Mitch Charlens  returns for his eighth year leading the San Diego City College Knights men's basketball team. Coach Charlens has created a winning basketball program at San Diego City College. In June of 2004 Charlens took over a program that won only seven games the previous year and had no returning players. With a month and a half to field a team, Charlens built a foundation instilling pride, respect, accountability, solid work ethic, and honor into each member of his program. Charlens' Knights finished with an 18-10 overall record (10-0 at home) and a 12-2 conference record which earned them the 2004-05 Pacific Coast Conference Championship. The team also advanced to post season play where they went on to reach the second round of the Regional State Playoffs. In addition, the team's success brought upon three All-Conference Player selections and a Coach of the Year for All Sports award in the Pacific Coast Conference for Coach Charlens.

In 2008-09, Charlens led the Knights to their most prosperous season in school history. The Knights finished with an overall record of 28-5 and won the Pacific Coast Conference championship with a 15-1 record. Charlens' Knights had a successful post season as they won two Southern California Regional playoff games to reach the Final Eight of the CCCAA playoffs for the first time ever. Individual success was also found during the '08-'09 season as Charlens was named the men's basketball Coach of the Year by the PCC and was also honored by the CCCAA as its Co-Coach of the Year. The Knights had three First Team All-PCC selections, two Honorable Mention selections and a PCC Player of the Year award for Malcolm Thomas who also earned the CCCAA Co-MVP and made First Team All-State. In addition, a total of eight players from the '08-'09 Knights received full-ride scholarships from 4-year schools.

In 2010-11, Charlens' Knights narrowly missed the post season after finishing with a 17-10 overall record and an 11-5 conference record, good for second place. They were riddled with injuries throughout the season and ended the year with only six healthy players.

Coach Charlens, a San Diego native, is extremely pleased that coaching has brought him home. Coach Charlens played basketball at University City High School in San Diego. He continued his basketball career at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. While at Saddleback, Coach Charlens helped lead the Gauchos to Back to Back Orange Empire Conference championships and a Final Eight Appearance.

Building on his accomplishments in the community college system, Coach went on to play at San Francisco State University where he was a starter and team captain.   Coach Charlens had highlights throughout his career and ended his playing career by scoring 20 points with 5 three pointers against UC Davis, that years’ National Champion. Once his playing days were over, Charlens entered the business world.  Realizing that was not his passion, Coach Charlens returned to basketball by coaching the Varsity Boys at Lowell High School in San Francisco. The following season he became an assistant coach at SFSU. He was then brought on as an assistant at Chico State University before coaching at the College of the Sequoias for two years. In 2004 The College of the Sequoias achieved the best record in the state (28-3) and earned a trip to the California Community College Final Four.

Coach Charlens earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at San Francisco State University and his Master's degree in Physical Education at Chico State University. He resides in San Diego with his wife Erin (Counselor at SDCC), son Brandon (8), and daughter, Chloe (6).

Assistant Coach - Joe D'Ambro

Coach Joe D'Ambro is in his fourth season as an assistant with the Knights. The 2007-08 season was his first as an assistant at any level. In addition to being part of Head Coach Mitch Charlens' staff, D'Ambro works as a Student Service Assistant at the SDCC Career Center.

D'Ambro earned Virginia All-State Honors and All-Met Honors (Washington D.C.) during his senior year (1997) at Fauquier High School in Warrenton, Va. He then went on to play at George Mason University. In 1998, D'Ambro was named Honorable Mention All-American by Youth Basketball of America (U-21) in Jacksonville, Fla. D'Ambro then transferred to SDCC to play for the Knights from 1999-2001.

Assistant Coach - Jose De La Garma

Jose De La Garma is serving in his third season with the men's basketball program and fourth overall at San Diego City College. He began his coaching career as the head coach for the JV Boys and then Varsity Girls at Salinas High School. De La Garma then made the transition to the college game as an assistant with the women's basketball team at City College in 2006. After two years he was brought on to join the men's coaching staff. De La Garma is honored to be back on the men's side working alongside such an experienced staff.

As a player, De La Garma was a starter at Hartnell Community College for one year and then transferred to play at Florida International University. He finished his undergraduate studies at San Diego State with a degree in Kinesiology and is currently finishing his Master's at Azusa Pacific University.

Assistant Coach - Nick Reed

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