BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – Blue Mountain College announced Wednesday that Randall Knox has been tapped to lead its tennis programs.

Knox, an Athens, Ala. native, comes via Lindsey Wilson College (Ken.) where he was head coach this past season.

Knox began his coaching career in 2004 when he was an assistant for Samford's men's team.

In 2009, he took a coaching role with UAB for the 2009-2010 season. The next year he moved on to Georgia State where he served as an assistant.

Knox has stops at Gonzaga University in 2013-14 as assistant and Georgia Gwinett as assistant from 2016-2018.

At Georgia Gwinett, he helped lead the teams to two NAIA national championships and was nominated for National Assistant Coach of the Year.

Prior to coaching, he was a successful player as a three-time state champion at Athens High School. He went on to play for Northwest-Shoals Community College in 1995 where he was named as an All-American second teamer and finished fourth in the national rankings as a team.

The next season Knox transferred to the University of Memphis and played for the Tigers for the 1996-1997 season.

He graduated from Alabama in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

"I'd like to thank AD Will Lowrey and President McMillin for this opportunity and the privilege to lead the BMC tennis programs to be a contender in the SSAC and on the national stage," Knox commented. "I knew I wanted to be a part of such a vision Will had for the tennis programs, and what kind of student-athletes we want to represent BMC. I want to be part of a great community and make sure we grow the BMC name across the NIAA and have the respect among all divisions. I do believe with the top-notch facilities, the great location and support staff, we will be a special program student-athletes want to be a part of. I can't wait to get started leading these young men and women."

This season at Lindsey Wilson, his women's team claimed the Mid-South Conference season and tournament titles and a No. 11 ranking in the NAIA, while the men were co-champions and tournament champions with a No. 13 ranking in the NAIA.

Lina Sachica, the No. 30 women's player in the NAIA and Camilo Erazo, the No. 17 men's player in the NAIA, competed under Knox's tutelage at Lindsey Wilson.

Lowrey said, "Coach Knox brings a lot of experience in the NAIA. He has a proven track record in recruiting top student-athletes. He is focused on building on the foundation that Coach Warner Creekmore has established at BMC. We are excited for the future of our men's and women's tennis programs."