Head Coach Coach Ryan Kershaw (3rd season)
Ryan Kershaw celebrates after the Knights win the
MIAC Postseason Playoff Championship
during the 2022-23 season.
Phone: (507) 222-5856
Email: rkershaw@carleton.edu
Ryan Kershaw enters his third season as the head coach of the Carleton Knights during the 2024-25 season. Kershaw, who has spent the past 11 years at Carleton, served in his first season as an assistant coach during the 2013-14 season and served as the program’s associate head coach for three seasons prior to taking the reins as the 12th head coach in program history following the 2021-22 campaign.
Since taking over as head coach, the program has experienced two of the most successful years in program history. In their first season under Kershaw's direction, the Knights went 24-4 (.857) overall, breaking the program record for victories in a single year. Carleton was 17-3 in conference action, winning the MIAC's regular-season title by four games and earning him the league's Coach of the Year Award. This was the 20th conference title in program history but the first outright crown since 1965-66.
The Knights then claimed the MIAC Playoff Championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history. Along the way, Carleton received its first-ever top-25 national ranking from D3hoops.com. Kershaw joined Guy Kalland (2005-06) as the only Carleton men's basketball coaches to earn the NABC's Region Coach of the Year Award.
Under Kershaw’s direction this past season, the Knights compiled a 17-9 overall record and second place finish in the MIAC regular season standings. Carleton received a bye and hosted a semi-final round home game in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. The Knights finished the regular season ranked second among all MIAC teams in offensive efficiency, third in effective field goal percentage, second in offensive rebound percentage and third in turnover rate. Through his first two seasons, Kershaw ranks third among NCAA Division III men’s basketball coaches with a .759 career win percentage (41-13).
Kershaw has coached six All-MIAC selections over the past two seasons, including MIAC Offensive Player of the Year Luke Harris ’25. Following the 2022-23 season, Jeremy Beckler ’23 became the first Carleton men's basketball player selected to participate in the Reese's NABC Division III All-Star game in Ft. Wayne, Ind.
During his time at Carleton, eight Knights have received All-Region honors, which includes three All-Americans, three Jostens Trophy finalists, and former Knight Freddie Gillespie, who was one of two former NCAA Division III players to play in the NBA during the 2021-22 season.
A native of Huffman, Texas, Kershaw earned his bachelor's degree from St. Olaf College in 2004 and his master's degree in leadership from Augsburg in 2013. A fixture in the MIAC, Kershaw has spent the past 24 seasons as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach at three different institutions within the conference.
Assistant Coach Tyler Grey (3rd Season)
Phone: (507) 222-5458
Email: tgrey@carleton.edu
Tyler Grey will enter his third season as the lead assistant for the Knights in 2024-25. During his first two seasons on staff, the Knights have recorded consecutive top-two finishes in the MIAC Regular Season standings, won a conference regular season title, conference playoff crown and participated in the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to his time at Carleton, Grey spent the previous eight years at the University of St. Thomas in athletic administration, where he served in various roles including marketing, communications, event management and sport administration. Previous to his time at St. Thomas, Grey spent four seasons as a member of the Gustavus Adolphus men's basketball program, where he helped lead the Gusties to four MIAC playoff appearances, including a trip to the first round of the NCAA Tournament during his senior season. One of the top three-point shooters in the MIAC during his playing career, Grey finished fourth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage during his senior season (41%) and led the Gusties with a 46/14 assist-to-turnover ratio.
“Tyler is a future head coach. He is closely involved in every facet of our program and has excellent basketball acumen and interpersonal skills. We are very fortunate to have Tyler, his wife Abby and their children Elsie and Hudson as part of our program” said head coach Ryan Kershaw.
In addition to his role at St. Thomas, Grey has also spent time coaching on the AAU basketball scene, as he served as a head coach for the Wear Out the Net Program. He graduated from Gustavus in 2012 and earned his master's degree in sport management from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2014. Grey will also serve as an assistant sports information director at Carleton.
Assistant Coach Steve Knutson (3rd Season)
Phone: (507) 222-5458
Email: stevekhoops@gmail.com
Steve Knutson ’01 enters his third season on the Carleton bench during the 2024-25 campaign. A four-year letter winner with the Knights during his time as a Carleton student, Knutson finished his career as one of the top three-point shooters in school history. During his junior season, Knutson finished third in the MIAC in three-point makes (65) while shooting a team-best 39% from behind the arc. As a senior, Knutson’s 2.8 assists per game total was ranked 10th in the conference.
Knutson has served as a skills trainer, high school scout and youth basketball coach during the previous seven years in both the Northfield and Chanhassen youth basketball associations. He currently serves as a head coach in the Northfield Youth Travel Basketball Association.
“Steve is a trusted confidant and integral member of our coaching staff and program. He is a tremendous basketball mind and excels in his ability to relate to the student-athletes in our program on a daily basis. He brings incredible value to our program each day and we are lucky to have him at Carleton” said head coach Ryan Kershaw.
An economics major, Knutson currently works as an actuary and is a Senior Director for Optum Health.
