Men's Volleyball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- Alan.Knipe@csulb.edu
- Phone:
- 985-1798
Three-time AVCA National Coach of the Year Alan Knipe has created a winning culture at Long Beach State. A living part of Long Beach State men’s volleyball history, Knipe is the only person in program history to have been a part of all four LBSU National Championships.
Knipe was a player on the 1991 squad that captured the program’s first-ever National Title, before coming back to his alma mater as a head coach and leading the Beach to the school’s first-ever back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2018 and 2019.
In 2025, Knipe added a new chapter to his legacy, guiding Long Beach State to a 30-3 overall record on the way to the program’s fourth NCAA National Championship with a 3-0 sweep of UCLA behind National Player of the Year and worldwide sensation Moni Nikolov.
In 22 seasons at the helm of the Long Beach State men’s volleyball program, Knipe has guided the Beach to ten NCAA Final Fours – eight in the last nine seasons – three Big West Conference tournament championships, 13 MPSF tournament appearances, six Big West Tournament appearances, and four NCAA Championships.
Under Knipe’s tutelage, Long Beach State has posted a 450-172 record as Knipe boasts a .723 winning percentage. In conference action, the Beach is 249-124 (.668) with Knipe on the bench. He has served as head coach of the Beach since 2001, with a brief hiatus from 2010-12 in which he coached the U.S. Men’s National Team.
As head coach of the Beach, Knipe has coached eight National Players of the Year in Moni Nikolov (AVCA, 2025), Alex Nikolov (AVCA, 2022), Josh Tuaniga (AVCA, 2018), TJ DeFalco, (AVCA, 2017 & 2019) Taylor Crabb (AVCA, 2013), Paul Lotman (AVCA, 2008) and Tyler Hildebrand (Volleyball Magazine, 2006). Additionally, Knipe has coached 81 All-America selections, 43 All-Big West Conference selections, and 58 All-MPSF selections.
Named AVCA Coach of the Year in 2004, 2017, and 2018, Knipe was named conference Coach of the Year for the fifth time in 2024 (Big West-2018, 2019, 2024/MPSF-2008, 2017).
During his tenure as head coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, Knipe guided the Americans to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Olympic Games in London as they advanced to the knockout round after finishing first in Pool B, which also featured Brazil and Russia, who were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the world, respectively.
With Knipe at the helm, the United States also qualified for the World League Finals on three occasions (2009, 2011 and 2012). In 2012, they claimed the FIVB World League silver medal, marking their second-best finish since the World League began in 1990. Additionally, the U.S. won the gold medal at the 2012 NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament, securing their eighth consecutive berth to the Olympics.
Knipe played three years (1990-92) at Long Beach State under Ray Ratelle, where he was a key member of the 1991 National Championship team. In the 1991 title match, Knipe racked up 16 kills, nine digs, eight blocks and hit .636 (16-2-22) as LBSU topped USC, 3-1.
As a student-athlete at LBSU, Knipe received numerous honors including all-conference (First Team, 1992), All-American (First Team, 1992; Second Team, 1991) and All-NCAA Tournament (1991) accolades. He also helped the Beach advance to the 1990 NCAA Finals.
Knipe continued his playing career following his graduation from Long Beach State as he was a member of the United States National Team from 1992-93. He also played on the Bud Light 4-Man Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and won seven USVB National Open Championships with Team Paul Mitchell. In 1993, he was named the United States Volleyball Association Player of the Year. Two years later, Knipe played overseas for Spoleto in the Italian Pro League and played for the Zellik Club in Belgium the following year.
In October 2006, Knipe was inducted into the inaugural Long Beach State Men’s Volleyball Wall of Honor which recognizes former players who represented Long Beach State men’s volleyball with unparalleled success or achievement. He was also inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
Knipe graduated from Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., and spent one year at Orange Coast College before transferring to Long Beach State, where he received his bachelor’s degree in speech communications in 1992.
Knipe and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Aidan and Evan.
| Season | School | Overall | Conference | Postseason |
| 2001 | Long Beach State | 18-7 | 12-5 (T1st) | MPSF Semifinals |
| 2002 | Long Beach State | 13-18 | 9-13 (7th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2003 | Long Beach State | 17-13 | 11-11 (8th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2004 | Long Beach State | 28-7 | 18-4 (2nd) | NCAA Finals MPSF Finals |
| 2005 | Long Beach State | 22-10 | 14-8 (5th) | MPSF Finals |
| 2006 | Long Beach State | 23-10 | 14-8 (T4th) | MPSF Finals |
| 2007 | Long Beach State | 11-17 | 6-16 (10th) | None |
| 2008 | Long Beach State | 23-7 | 18-4 (T1st) | NCAA Semifinals MPSF Semifinals |
| 2009 | Long Beach State | 14-14 | 11-11 (7th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2013 | Long Beach State | 24-8 | 18-6 (T2nd) | MPSF Finals |
| 2014 | Long Beach State | 18-10 | 15-9 (T5th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2015 | Long Beach State | 15-13 | 11-11 (7th) | MPSF Quarterfinals |
| 2016 | Long Beach State | 25-8 | 17-5 (T2nd) | NCAA Semifinals MPSF Semifinals |
| 2017 | Long Beach State | 27-4 | 16-2 (T1st) | NCAA Semifinals MPSF Champions |
| 2018 | Long Beach State | 28-1 | 9-1 (1st) | NCAA Champions Big West Champions |
| 2019 | Long Beach State | 28-2 | 10-0 (1st) | NCAA Champions |
| 2020 | Long Beach State | 10-1 | N/A | Abbreviated season due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | Long Beach State | 7-5 | 6-4 (3rd) | Big West Semifinals |
| 2022 | Long Beach State | 21-6 | 8-2 (1st) | Big West Semifinals NCAA Finalists |
| 2023 | Long Beach State | 21-5 | 9-1 (T1st) | Big West Semifinals NCAA Semifinalists |
| 2024 | Long Beach State | 27-3 | 9-1 (1st) | Big West Champions NCAA Finalists |
| 2025 | Long Beach State | 30-3 | 8-2 (1st) | Big West Champions NCAA Champions |
| TOTAL (22 Seasons) |
450-172 (.723) | 249-124 (.668) | 3 NCAA Championships 10 NCAA Appearances |
KNIPE AT THE BEACH
14 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES
2025 - NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
2024 – NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)
2023 – NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
2022 – NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)
2019 - NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
2018 – NCAA Champions (Head Coach)
2017 – NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
2016 - NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
2008 - NCAA Semifinalists (Head Coach)
2004 - NCAA Finalists (Head Coach)
1999 - NCAA Finalists (Assistant Coach)
1991 - NCAA Champions (Player)
1990 - NCAA Finalists (Player)
8 NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Moni Nikolov - 2025 AVCA National Player of the Year
Alex Nikolov - 2022 AVCA National Player of the Year
TJ DeFalco - 2019 AVCA National Player of the Year
Josh Tuaniga – 2018 AVCA National Player of the Year
Josh Tuaniga and TJ DeFalco – 2018 VolleyballMag.com Co-Players of the Year
TJ DeFalco – 2017 AVCA National Player of the Year
Taylor Crabb - 2013 AVCA National Player of the Year
Paul Lotman - 2008 AVCA National Player of the Year
Tyler Hildebrand - 2006 Volleyball Magazine National Player of the Year
KNIPE'S EXPERIENCE
U.S. MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM COACH
2012 London Olympics
- 2012 Quarterfinalists
- Finished 1st in Pool B (Pool included No. 1 Brazil and No. 2 Russia)
3 World League Finals
- 2012 Silver Medalists
- 2011
- 2009
NORCECA Continential Olympic Qualification
- 2012 Gold Medalists
2025 NCAA Title 2019 NCAA Title
2018 NCAA Title
2004, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024 NCAA National Championship appearances
2004, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 NCAA Final Fours
2004, 2017, 2018 AVCA National Coach of the Year
2018, 2019, 2024 Big West Conference Coach of the Year
2008, 2017 MPSF Coach of the Year
2018 VolleyMob Coach of the Year
2 Big West Tournament Championships
1 MPSF Tournament Championship
7 Big West Championship Appearances
13 MPSF Tournament Appearances
7 AVCA National Players of the Year
3 AVCA Newcomers of the Year
81 All-America Selections
43 All-Big West Selections
58 All-MPSF Selections
KNIPE'S PLAYING HIGHLIGHTS
Long Beach State (1990-92)
- 1991 National Champions
- 1990 NCAA Finalists
Bud Light 4-Man Pro Beach Tour (1993-96)
- 7 USVBA National Open Champions
- 1993 USVBA Player of the Year
