UC San Diego hires Carlson as men's basketball coach

Jun 12, 2007 - 3:36 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- UC San Diego on Monday announced the hiring of UCLA assistant Chris Carlson as men's basketball coach.

Carlson, 37, replaces Bill Carr who posted a 38-45 record in his three seasons at helm before leaving to become the associate head coach at the University of San Diego.

"We are very excited to have Chris join our staff and lead our men's basketball program," director of athletics Earl W. Edwards said. "He comes from a winning tradition and brings a tremendous amount of knowledge to us from his vast experiences at the Division-I level. I have no doubt that he will take this program to a new level of success."

Carlson becomes the 11th men's basketball coach in the 42-year history of the program and only the third to lead the program at the NCAA Division II level. He is also the third UCLA assistant to be named as a head coach in the last two years.

"I'm very thankful and appreciative for my experience at UCLA and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bruin family," Carlson said. "The opportunity to be the head coach at UCSD is a special one that also affords me the opportunity to return home."