Retired Pro Will Be STA's New Head Basketball Coach

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — Saint Thomas Academy named a new head of its basketball program and head coach of the varsity basketball team, the school said.

Khalid El-Amin has many years of experience with basketball, playing as a point guard in high school, college and professionally, the school said.

“Khalid is a basketball legend in the state of Minnesota. He is a three-time state champion, was a three-time Minnesota High School Player of the Year, was a Minnesota Mr. Basketball winner and was a McDonald's All-American,” Greg May, athletic and activities director at Saint Thomas Academy said. “He went on to UConn to win an NCAA National Championship before having a long professional basketball career. Khalid is an energetic guy who understands the importance of relationships and development when it comes to student-athletes. His vast experience, basketball IQ and winning background is exactly what we were looking for in our next head coach. Khalid is going to do great things at the Academy!”

El-Amin was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2000 and played with them for one year before playing in Europe for 15 years, the school said.

After retiring as a professional player, El-Amin was a high school assistant coach at Burnsville High School for two years and at Minneapolis North for one year, the school said. He also led training camps for El-Amin Training and Minneapolis Nike Basketball Camps for 12 years, the school said.

El-Amin was named Big East Freshmen of the Year in 1998 while playing for the UConn Huskies in college, Saint Thomas Academy said. He also helped Team USA win a gold medal in the Goodwill Games that year, the school said.

In 1999, El-Amin led the Huskies to an NCAA Championship and the team was named All Big East First Team in 2000, the school said.

El-Amin also made a name for himself in high school basketball, playing for Minneapolis North High School, Saint Thomas Academy said. He was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball in 1997 and inducted into Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018, the school said.