Mitch 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.

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.