Galesburg, IL - The Prairie Fire is going in a new direction this season, starting with a new head coach experienced in building programs.

Kevin Walden, a 2001 Knox College graduate who played for Coach Tim Heimann and served as an assistant coach under Heimann from 2001 to 2006, was named the Prairie Fire head men’s basketball coach in August.

Walden spent the past four years as the head men’s basketball coach at NCAA Division III Warren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina, where he led the Owls to a 16-9 record last season, the team’s first winning record since the 1980s. 

Walden will see 12 players returning from the 2011-2012 team, but only five that played double-figure minutes.  Knox also has three new additions on the roster this season.

The Prairie Fire will count on the leadership of senior co-captains, forward Lukas Shaw (Portland, OR, U.S. Grant) and guard Tyler Olson (Marengo, IA, Iowa Valley). 

Shaw started 22 of the 23 games he appeared in and averaged 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and shot a blistering 56 percent from the floor last season.  His 6.8 rebounds led the team and ranked #5 in the Midwest Conference, and his shooting percentage was also the best on the team and #7 in the MWC.

Olson appeared in all 23 games and made 21 starts.  The Prairie Fire’s top 3-point shooter at nearly 42 percent, he averaged 2.7 points and about 20 minutes per game.  Olson was among the top 10 in the conference in 3-point shooting percentage.

“Both senior captains have been great leaders for us,” Walden said of Shaw and Olson.  “They did a great job of leading us in the preseason, and they will be asked to lead by example the entire season.  We expect both of them to have great senior seasons.”

Walden said Shaw has done “an unbelievable job” of getting into shape and has put in the off-season work to have a great senior year.  Walden said Olson leads by example.  “He does exactly what is expected of him and works extremely hard.  He is a good shooter and a very intelligent basketball player.”

Another returning player with significant experience on the floor is junior forward David Jones (Denver, CO, Colorado Academy). Jones appeared in all 23 games last season and averaged 5.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 21 minutes. 

“(David) is a returning post player who we expect to play extended minutes and have a great season,” Walden said. “He’ll be a major contributor to our team at both ends of the floor.”

Two sophomores that played in all 23 games during the 2011-12 season are guards Armand Stricklin (Lee Summit, MO, Lee Summit West) and Mitch Murphy (Bushnell, IL, Bushnell-Prairie City/Avon). 

Murphy, a back-up shooting guard last season, averaged 5.5 points, made 25 shots from 3-point range, and connected on 82 percent from the free throw line in nearly 13 minutes per game. Stricklin, a back-up point guard a year ago, averaged 3.8 points and was third on the team in assists while playing about 12 minutes per game.

“(Stricklin) will have an extended role this year,” Walden said.  “He had a good first-year campaign and will be expected to be a major contributor.”  Walden said Murphy will compete at shooting guard and small forward this season, and like Stricklin, will be expected to be a major contributor this season.

The other returning players Walden said will challenge for minutes are juniors Chris McNichols (Skokie, IL, Niles West), Mackinzie Chapman (Sheffield, IL, Annawan), and Adam Worden (Monee, IL, Crete-Monee), along with sophomores Eric Crawford (Maywood, IL, Providence St. Mel), Matt Gordon (Elk Grove Village, IL, Elk Grove), Martin Munoz (Chicago, IL, Providence St. Mel), and Dillon Eighner (Rankin, IL, Hoopeston).

The newcomers to the program are junior transfer Eric Miller (Villa Park, IL, Willowbrook) and first-years Javaka Thompson (Chicago, IL, Whitney Young) and Charlie Harned (Webster Groves, MO, Clayton).

Miller came to Knox from North Central College.  “We expect him to make a major contribution to our basketball program immediately and challenge for minutes at the point guard and shooting guard positions,” Walden said.

Walden also added that Thompson will compete for time at the post positions, and Harned will compete for minutes at all three guard positions.

The new Prairie Fire coach said he expects the players to be positive and work extremely hard.

“We will be playing our best basketball toward the end of our season, and we will consistently improve throughout the year,” Walden said.  “I expect us to come together as a team and buy into our new system of play early in the season.”

The Knox men's basketball team begins the new sesaon at home on November 15 against MacMurray College.  The tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.  The contest will be streamed live on the Web beginning at 7:20 p.m. at http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/knox.portal#