The Ben Howland coaching tree keeps growing, as Chris Carlson, who was working as UCLA's Director of Basketball Operations (not technically an assistant coach) was hired as UC San Diego's head coach on Monday.

UCSD press release

UCLA Bio

UC San Diego is a Division II school. This is Carlson's first head coaching job.

Congrats to Carlson and UCSD. Notice when basketball assistants leave (like Ernie Ziegler and Kerry Keating) they leave for head coaching jobs that they already have, not that they are looking for.

If you don't remember, Ziegler left for Central Michigan after the 2006 season, and Keating was recently hired by Santa Clara.

From the UCLA press release: "I'm very thankful and appreciative for my experience at UCLA and thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Bruin family," Carlson said. "The opportunity to be the head coach at UCSD is a special one that also affords me the opportunity to return home. I want to thank UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero and the UCLA community for some unbelievable experiences, ones that will last a lifetime."

Carlson will be reunited with former UCLA player Kelvin Kim. I'm sure you all remember him. Kim averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 assists and 30.1 minutes per game last season.

This is my first diary and I can't fill 200 words. Impressive. Let's try this again. This is 200 words now, right?