Mississippi Delta Community College Names Jamar McKnight Head Men’s Basketball Coach

MOORHEAD, Miss. (June 17, 2026) – Mississippi Delta Community College has named Jamar McKnight as the new head coach of the Trojans men’s basketball program. McKnight officially began his duties June 8.

A former standout junior college player, NCAA Division I student-athlete, professional basketball player and veteran coach, McKnight returns to the Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) with extensive experience at the collegiate and high school levels. He becomes the only current MACCC head men’s basketball coach who previously competed as a student-athlete in the conference.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Jamar McKnight to the Trojan family,” said MDCC Athletic Director Tangela Banks. “His experience as a player, coach and mentor at every level of the game gives him a unique perspective on developing student-athletes both on and off the court. Coach McKnight has a proven passion for building relationships, developing talent and creating a championship culture, and we believe he is the right person to lead our men’s basketball program into its next chapter.”

McKnight most recently completed his second stint at Baton Rouge Community College, where he served under head coach Byron Starks alongside special assistant John Brady, the former LSU head men’s basketball coach.

Earlier in his coaching career, McKnight served as an assistant coach at both Northwest Mississippi Community College and Baton Rouge Community College. At Northwest, he worked under former Delta State University and Mississippi Delta Community College assistant Shane Oakley, helping lead the Rangers to victories over Pearl River Community College, Holmes Community College and nationally ranked East Mississippi Community College. He later served under former University of Southern Mississippi assistant Ricky Wilson at Baton Rouge Community College, where the Bears won a conference championship and advanced to the MACCC quarterfinals.

McKnight has also served the past two summers as a coach and mentor at the prestigious Junior College All-American Showcase in Atlanta, working with many of the nation’s top junior college players. In addition, he has trained alongside former NBA player and renowned skills development coach Kevin Whitted in Memphis, Tennessee, helping develop professional, collegiate and youth basketball players.

A native of Zachary, Louisiana, with family roots in Liberty and Gulfport, Mississippi, McKnight played at Northwest Mississippi Community College from 1998 to 2000 under legendary coach Don “Bubba” Skelton. Playing for the nationally ranked Rangers, he averaged 18.5 points per game as a sophomore, earned All-MACCC honors and attracted scholarship offers from numerous major NCAA Division I programs before signing with Clemson University.

At Clemson, McKnight played from 2000 to 2002 under head coach Larry Shyatt. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game as a senior while helping lead the Tigers to victories over No. 1 North Carolina and No. 5 Virginia. He earned Clemson’s Most Improved Player Award during his senior season.

Following his collegiate career, McKnight played professionally from 2002 to 2010 in the United States and overseas. His career included time with the Greenville Groove of the National Basketball Developmental League, the Los Angeles Defenders, the Brevard Blue Ducks and professional teams in Austria, Hungary, Iran, Spain, Portugal and Turkey. He also attended training camp with the Boston Celtics.

McKnight later returned to his alma mater, Zachary High School, as an assistant coach and teacher before becoming head boys’ basketball coach at Southern University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge. There, he led the program to the LHSAA quarterfinals, earned District Coach of the Year honors and guided the team to a No. 1 state ranking during the 2020-21 season.

In addition to coaching, McKnight has served as a sociology instructor at Southern University A&M. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College before completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Southern University A&M. His graduate research examined the impact of sports on athletes and their families, reflecting his passion for using athletics to positively influence young people and their communities.

“I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at Mississippi Delta Community College,” McKnight said. “The MACCC played a significant role in my own journey as a student-athlete, so returning to this conference as a head coach is incredibly meaningful. My goal is to build a program rooted in discipline, accountability and player development while preparing our student-athletes for success on the court, in the classroom and in life. I can’t wait to get to work with our players, connect with the campus and represent the Trojan community with pride.”

McKnight said he also looks forward to becoming involved throughout the Delta region through community outreach while building a championship culture at MDCC.

McKnight and his three daughters, Rhylee, Jholee and Charlee, will join the MDCC family as he assumes leadership of the Trojans men’s basketball program.