Gary is regarded as perhaps the greatest high school coach in Southern California history and one of the best all-time nationally through his incredible basketball record at Mater Dei in Santa Ana. McKnight is the winningest coach in California basketball history and still going strong. He has a 1136-110 record, 91% winning percentage going into the 2019-20 season with one national title, 23 CIF titles, 11 California State titles and has won 29 straight league crowns. He won his first CIF title in his first year at Mater Dei in 1983 has won titles in 4 decades over his 37 years.

He has been the national coach of the year, the state coach of the year and is among the top five all-time in high school victories. He has produced 10 NBA players, over 75 NCAA Division I players and over 100 players have gone onto college basketball careers. He is also responsible for numerous coaches on every level. He attended San Clemente HS as a football and baseball player. He then went to Cal State Fullerton before starting HS coaching. He has been nominated for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He and his wife Judy have been married for almost 50 years.