When it was announced two weeks ago that Long Beach State and Dan Monson had reached a five-year contract extension, LBSU athletic director Andy Fee pointed out that he didn’t like coaches entering lame-duck years where they were on the last season of their contract.
Astute 49er fans might have perked their antennae up at that, given that Alan Knipe, the head coach of the nation’s No. 1-ranked men’s volleyball team, is in the last year of his contract.
Fee confirmed on Monday afternoon that the school and Knipe are working on an extension and are closing in on a deal.
“We are working on securing Alan Knipe in a long-term extension to continue leading our men’s volleyball program,” said Fee. “Alan has earned this extension with his success on the court and in the classroom. Coach supports and believes in the values of president Conoley, myself and our university. I hope to finalize this extension in the upcoming weeks.”
One way or another the upcoming weeks will be busy for Knipe, as the 49ers have a pair of matches in Hawaii this Friday and Saturday trying to close out an undefeated regular season. Next week the 49ers will host the inaugural Big West men’s volleyball tournament April 19-21, with the NCAA Tournament at UCLA beyond that. The 49ers will host next year’s NCAA Tournament and return virtually their entire record-breaking lineup from this year’s team.
