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Kirsten McKnight, a veteran of the Pacific-10 Conference, has been named assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of California, head coach Caren Horstmeyer announced Thursday.  

McKnight fills the vacancy created when Sue Phillips-Chargin opted to return to her previous job as head women’s basketball coach at Archbishop Mitty High School. Her hiring completes the Cal staff, which also includes assistant coaches Shaunice Warr and Camille Burkes.  

“We’re excited with our new addition to the Cal coaching staff,” said Horstmeyer. “Kirsten brings well-rounded experience from her time coaching at Oregon. She knows what it takes to build a program into a consistent championship-caliber team.”  

McKnight’s responsibilities at Cal will include assisting with recruiting and working with the development of the guards. Horstmeyer also announced that Warr would be assuming additional recruiting responsibilities as the senior member of her staff.  

McKnight returns home to the Bay Area after serving for three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Oregon. During her tenure, the Ducks won two Pac-10 championships and competed in three NCAA Tournaments. 

The Larkspur product also competed in four NCAA Tournaments as a guard for the Oregon women’s basketball team beginning with the 1994-95 season. She began her collegiate playing career as a walk-on and was awarded a full scholarship by her junior season, and was voted by her teammates as the 1998 Bev Smith Most Inspirational Player.