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PCAC Coach of the Year Mitch Charlens watches his team in action against Palomar at Harry West Gym, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. Photo by David J. Bohnet/City Times Media
City's Charlens tallies 400th career win
SPECIAL 400TH WIN EDITION
Nothin' but net
City Times
Jakob McWhinney works on a story at Voice of San Diego's downtown office May 5, 2023. Photo by Sean Monney
By Sean Monney Multimedia Journalist
Volume 80, Issue 2 February 4, 2026
"Once a knight, always a knight." - Mitch Charlens
With 400 career victories, San Diego City College men's basketball head coach Mitch Charlens is No. 2 on the list of active coaches in the state with the most wins, behind only Chaffey College's Jeff Klein. As a way to honor the milestone, City Times Media staff interviewed those who have been in and around the Knights basketball program over the years.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Covering the San Diego City College community since 1945
Steven Aldridge
Romario Wilson
Former Teammate/Assistant Coach
JOE D’AMBRO
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summer term to open
RICKY SHABAZZ
“It wasn't just about making him look good, it was getting (the athletes) to their next destination. That's why, in 2017 when they won the state championship, I was in the stands. Other coaches and former players were in the stands because that win wasn't just about the 2017 team, it was about every Knight that's been through this program.”
Photo by Nadia Lavin/City Times Media
Classes begin as soon as June 5
Perry Webster photo
BOBBY ANDREASEN
Former Player & Assistant Coach
“(Charlens) says, once a Knight, always a Knight. It's not like, you're coming in the program two years and we're going to forget about you. There's a real family type of atmosphere that he has really cultivated, and he is very concerned about maintaining the culture of the program in terms of playing basketball.”
Watch episode of "Inside City Sports" featuring Charlens
Assistant Coach
Bobby Andreasen photo
“I honestly think Mitch is one of the greatest communicators I've ever met. He really has an ability to make you laugh, to be serious, to demand yet be loving. They seem like they have real relationships with their players and real bonds with those guys. They really seem to gravitate and love Mitch and spend time with Mitch and his family and his wife.”
Former Player/Assistant Coach
“When we look at our basketball players and other student-athletes, they transfer at a much higher level. Four hundred wins is big, but when you look at the number of students he has helped transfer, it exceeds that number.”
Charlens:'No one does it alone'
Erin Charlens photo
Former City College Player
Jakob McWhinney was finishing his 5-month internship at the online news organization Voice of San Diego when it posted a job opening for the education reporter position. Then a second-year digital journalism student at San Diego City College, McWhinney was encouraged by his coworkers to apply. But he said he never imagined himself writing about education. He decided to apply anyway, compiling information and experience for his resume and reflecting on his own educational journey. “I started to realize my story is an education story,” McWhinney said. “It's a story that shows really the truly transformative power of education.” After graduating from Helix High School in 2008, McWhinney occasionally attended class at Grossmont Community College. It was not until the pandemic that he decided to go to City College and really “give school a real shot.” When McWhinney took a journalism class to fulfill a prerequisite, he fell in love with it. He got fully involved in journalism at City College, where he wrote for City Times, produced podcasts for CT Sound and anchored TV news shows for CTTV’s Newscene and Inside City. During his internship with Voice of San Diego, McWhinney worked on projects independently but also alongside other journalists like Jesse Marx, the associate editor at Voice of San Diego. “He embodied all of those traits that make a really good reporter,” Marx said about McWhinney. “So I strongly encouraged him to apply and I put in a good word for him.” McWhinney was hired as the education reporter for Voice of San Diego, where he went on to write about chronic absenteeism, student worker wages and transitional kindergarten. McWhinney said he wouldn’t have even been able to get back into school without the grants and scholarships he received, and now works full-time to afford the costs of university. “Education is supposed to be this great equalizer,” he said, “but still to this day it's very, very unequal.” Students interested in taking summer courses at San Diego City College can now register. Whether to get ahead of your general education classes toward your major or just to enjoy a summer class because it sounds intriguing, City College offers a wide variety of classes over the summer months. There are over 200+ courses to choose from at City College alone. Students can take generic subjects that count toward their general education credit like biology, English, mathematics and psychology. City College even offers classes that can help new students with the transition into college. Classes start on June 5 and run until August 12 and can run for the full summer semester or can run in a variety of weekly sessions. City College offers 6, 8, 12, or 14-week sessions. Students also have the option to choose from the first half or the second half of the session. Classes are $46 per unit, and financial aid is available for students who apply. For more information on coursework, financial aid resources, visit sdcity.edu.
Wife & City Transfer Coordinator
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“(Being a student-athlete) takes a lot of mental fortitude, and you have to be able to get yourself to do it. That's really where the discipline comes in. I think that's what (Charlens) taught me, in a sense, and that's why I keep on striving to be better, because of everything that we learned from there, from City College and the environment. It transfers over to different parts of your life.”
Ricky Shabazz photo
SDCCD photo
Watch the documentary, "Beyond 400"
San Diego City College President
City College's coach puts players first
“I think him being hard on me as a player, and even as a coach at times, and making sure that I never took it personal, right? It was something that has always stuck with me.”
RUSTY SMITH
By Sydney Dull, Multimedia Journalist
ERIN CHARLENS
“I thank Coach Charlens for allowing me to be a part of the program, adding to my life again. I completed my time as a player and I wasn’t around the game anymore. I thought, ‘What do I do now?’ and it was a big void. Allowing me to be on this staff, building the program, being a part of these guys coming into our program and moving out has started the next chapter of my life.”
“I remember the year after the state title, we went back to the state championship. We lost but it was a moment where basketball was more than a game. I have this beautiful picture of them. They're locked, their arms are all around each other, the evidence of the actual team and community. So I have little glimpses of the families that he has been able to develop and foster -- the Knights family.”
Throughout his 20 years at San Diego City College, head coach Mitch Charlens didn't just win 400 games -- he impacted and changed lives. City Times Media multimedia journalists Itzel Martinez and Varun Chaturvedi explored these connections to document the true Charlens, talking to 30 different people. They ranged from current and former players and coaches to friends, family and foes on the court.
Perry Webster
Steven Aldridge photo
Fullerton College Coach
Coach Mitch Charlens, on ladder, cuts down the net after the Knights' 113-81 win over Riverside City College at Harry West Gym, which puts City in its first state championship quarterfinals since 2009, Saturday, March 4, 2017. Photo by Celia Jimenez/City Times
2005 Knights win first of nine conference titles (also in 2009, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2024 & 2025)
2016 City College wins Charlens' 200th game against Antelope Valley College
2019 Charlens earns 300th win over IVC at end of regular season
CITYINREVIEW
Mitch Charlens has led the Knights through two decades of domination. Read below for some of the highlights.
sdcitytimes.com | February 4, 2026
By Itzel Martinez Sports Editor
itch Charlens won his 400th game as San Diego City College men’s basketball head coach against Barstow in the Knights' opener of the Home Motors Tournament at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Nov. 21, 2025. He has been with City's basketball program for 22 seasons, 20 as head coach. Charlens, 52, said an achievement like this isn't just a one-person job. “No one does it alone,” Charlens said to City Times Media during Media Day. “Without my staff being brilliant in helping me lead these guys, without the talent, none of this would have been possible.” The Knights, who were 4-2 overall, finished 3-0 at the Home Motors Tournament on Nov. 23, 2025. The team completed an 87-72 win against host Allan Hancock, following a 65-64 victory over San Jose City and a 67-31 win over Barstow to remain perfect in the pre-conference tournament. Against Barstow, freshman Dylan Griffin led with 21 points, three rebounds, and three steals and was the only player to finish in the double digits. Sophomore Cyprian Hyde contributed nine points and six rebounds. As an athlete, Charlens played basketball while attending Saddleback College and was a standout player at San Francisco State University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in psychology. He later attended Chico State University, where he earned his master’s degree in physical education. Among his career highlights as a coach, Charlens led the Knights to their first California Community College Athletic Conference state championship title in 2017 as well as state runner-up the following year. He received nine Pacific Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards and PCAC championships, four of those coming on undefeated seasons for the Knights. More than 15 former City College players made their way to professional basketball careers in the NBA, Europe, China, South America and Australia. There will be a celebration for Charlens on Wednesday, Feb. 4 , 2026 at Harry West Gym at 4:55 p.m., according to the City College Athletic Department.
2018 The Knights finish as state runners- up to City College of San Francisco
2014 Knights finish PCAC undefeated for first time (also in 2016, 2017 & 2018)
MILESTONEMADNESS
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2022 Charlens returns to City College as head coach
400 for city's charlens
2025 Charlens collects 400th win, ranking No. 2 among active coach in the state
2021 Charlens becomes assistant coach at nearby USD, departing from City College
2008-09 season Charlens wins PCAC Coach of the Year award for the first time
2004 Charlens, 31, hired at City College as Knights basketball head coach
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2010 With a victory over Imperial Valley College, Charlens gets 100th win with Knights
longtime coach of the knights sits at No. 2 among active coaches in state
2017 Men's basketball wins state title for the first time in school history