Texas Tech Names Chris Walker Interim Coach

Lubbock Avalance-Journal, Nick Kosmider

http://lubbockonline.com/sports-red-raiders-mens-basketball/2012-10-04/walker-named-interim-texas-tech-basketball-coach#

Chris Walker climbed the ladder as an assistant basketball coach, through the late nights, long road trips and moves across the country, for 17 seasons.

So the fact that his first head coaching position will come with an “interim” label doesn’t seem to matter too much to the man Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt placed in charge of the program for the upcoming season Thursday.

“This has been the realization of a dream for 17 years in this business, said Walker, who replaces Billy Gillispie, the coach who, citing health reasons, resigned Sept. 20 after just one season at Tech. This is a very difficult business, and for 17 years I’ve worked

very diligently to place myself in a situation to have this opportunity. I’m very thankful that Texas Tech has given me this chance.”

Hocutt said he and Walker “shook hands” on a six-month agreement that will last until the end of the 2012-13 season. Hocutt did not disclose the terms of the deal.

The university will open a national coaching search following the end of Tech’s season, Hocutt added.

For now, though, Tech moves ahead with Walker, who last season served as the associate head coach under Gillispie. He has led the team through much of the last month, a turbulent time that included allegations Gillispie mistreated players and violated NCAA rules regarding practice times.

Gillispie also spent almost a week at a Lubbock hospital, where he was being treated for high blood pressure, followed by a short stay at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Meantime, Walker led the way through conditioning and individual workouts, and Hocutt said Thursday he has been pleased with the way the longtime assistant has held the team together. And though the interim position “was attractive to many people throughout the country, Hocutt said Walker’s ability to build chemistry during a difficult time made him the best choice for the job.

I’ve been impressed with the leadership and the communication talent that Chris Walker has demonstrated in moving this basketball program and our student-athletes forward, Hocutt said. His ability to lead and manage the current situation has been very commendable.”

Hocutt said he would not speculate at this time as to whether Walker will be a candidate for the permanent job.

Walker, a Houston native, coached at his alma mater, Villanova, for two seasons prior to arriving at Tech. During his time there under coach Jay Wright, Walker helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA tournament berths. He also helped coach NCAA tournament teams at Vanderbilt and Pepperdine.

Walker on Thursday deferred much of the praise from Hocutt to his assistant coaching staff that includes Jeremy Cox and Bubba Jennings. Tech and Walker still have one assistant position on the staff to fill.

The new head coach also credited Tech players, who stood by the podium in matching black shorts and school-issued shirts as Walker spoke.

“I’m very happy to coach these guys, Walker said of a roster that includes six new players. They’ve been in some difficult situations. They’ve had a great attitude. The staff has had a great attitude. All we’re focusing on right now is moving forward and taking on this season.

“There’s a lot of things that will be said, and I’ll tell you this: From this program going out, it will be all positive, all great energy, and we’re happy about that.”

Walker faces a laundry list of challenges this season. The Red Raiders finished 8-23 last season and won just one Big 12 Conference game. One of the team’s top recruits, Wannah Bail, left the team after the first summer school session, and another incoming freshman, Aaron Ross, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will sideline him for the season.

Tech does return its three top scorers from a season ago in Jordan Tolbert, Jaye Crockett and Ty Nurse, and it has added a dynamic freshman point guard in Josh Gray, a Houston Wheatley product who had originally committed to Mississippi State.

Walker will also face obstacles on the recruiting trail, as he will be unable to offer recruits any certainty he will be the one to coach them next season and further into the future. But Walker said he won’t be trying to sell himself as much as he will be selling the program.

“At the end of the day, it’s about Texas Tech, Walker said. We’re selling the university. We’re selling Lubbock. We’re selling the people of Lubbock. It’s not about coach Walker or any of those things that people think happens in the recruiting world. At the end of the day, we want these guys to be proud of their Red Raiders. Not proud they’ve played for coach Walker, but proud they’re part of a great community that supports them.

“Going forward, yeah, there will be some questions asked. But we’ll intelligently and eloquently answer those questions. At the end of the day, I think everything will be good, and we’ll see where we are at the end of the year.”

Junior forward Crockett said the team is glad to have the question of who its head coach will be this season out of the way.

“I don’t have to deal with my mom and grandma asking me every day who the coach is, Crockett quipped. I think coach Walker brings — he makes it a family. He’s always open for us to come and talk to him. He’s going to bring energy. He keeps us positive at all times. I think it’s going to be a great year this year with coach Walker.”

Texas Tech Names Chris Walker Interim Coach

Lubbock Avalance-Journal, Nick Kosmider

http://lubbockonline.com/sports-red-raiders-mens-basketball/2012-10-04/walker-named-interim-texas-tech-basketball-coach#

Chris Walker climbed the ladder as an assistant basketball coach, through the late nights, long road trips and moves across the country, for 17 seasons.

So the fact that his first head coaching position will come with an “interim” label doesn’t seem to matter too much to the man Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt placed in charge of the program for the upcoming season Thursday.

“This has been the realization of a dream for 17 years in this business, said Walker, who replaces Billy Gillispie, the coach who, citing health reasons, resigned Sept. 20 after just one season at Tech. This is a very difficult business, and for 17 years I’ve worked

very diligently to place myself in a situation to have this opportunity. I’m very thankful that Texas Tech has given me this chance.”

Hocutt said he and Walker “shook hands” on a six-month agreement that will last until the end of the 2012-13 season. Hocutt did not disclose the terms of the deal.

The university will open a national coaching search following the end of Tech’s season, Hocutt added.

For now, though, Tech moves ahead with Walker, who last season served as the associate head coach under Gillispie. He has led the team through much of the last month, a turbulent time that included allegations Gillispie mistreated players and violated NCAA rules regarding practice times.

Gillispie also spent almost a week at a Lubbock hospital, where he was being treated for high blood pressure, followed by a short stay at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Meantime, Walker led the way through conditioning and individual workouts, and Hocutt said Thursday he has been pleased with the way the longtime assistant has held the team together. And though the interim position “was attractive to many people throughout the country, Hocutt said Walker’s ability to build chemistry during a difficult time made him the best choice for the job.

I’ve been impressed with the leadership and the communication talent that Chris Walker has demonstrated in moving this basketball program and our student-athletes forward, Hocutt said. His ability to lead and manage the current situation has been very commendable.”

Hocutt said he would not speculate at this time as to whether Walker will be a candidate for the permanent job.

Walker, a Houston native, coached at his alma mater, Villanova, for two seasons prior to arriving at Tech. During his time there under coach Jay Wright, Walker helped lead the Wildcats to a pair of NCAA tournament berths. He also helped coach NCAA tournament teams at Vanderbilt and Pepperdine.

Walker on Thursday deferred much of the praise from Hocutt to his assistant coaching staff that includes Jeremy Cox and Bubba Jennings. Tech and Walker still have one assistant position on the staff to fill.

The new head coach also credited Tech players, who stood by the podium in matching black shorts and school-issued shirts as Walker spoke.

“I’m very happy to coach these guys, Walker said of a roster that includes six new players. They’ve been in some difficult situations. They’ve had a great attitude. The staff has had a great attitude. All we’re focusing on right now is moving forward and taking on this season.

“There’s a lot of things that will be said, and I’ll tell you this: From this program going out, it will be all positive, all great energy, and we’re happy about that.”

Walker faces a laundry list of challenges this season. The Red Raiders finished 8-23 last season and won just one Big 12 Conference game. One of the team’s top recruits, Wannah Bail, left the team after the first summer school session, and another incoming freshman, Aaron Ross, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament that will sideline him for the season.

Tech does return its three top scorers from a season ago in Jordan Tolbert, Jaye Crockett and Ty Nurse, and it has added a dynamic freshman point guard in Josh Gray, a Houston Wheatley product who had originally committed to Mississippi State.

Walker will also face obstacles on the recruiting trail, as he will be unable to offer recruits any certainty he will be the one to coach them next season and further into the future. But Walker said he won’t be trying to sell himself as much as he will be selling the program.

“At the end of the day, it’s about Texas Tech, Walker said. We’re selling the university. We’re selling Lubbock. We’re selling the people of Lubbock. It’s not about coach Walker or any of those things that people think happens in the recruiting world. At the end of the day, we want these guys to be proud of their Red Raiders. Not proud they’ve played for coach Walker, but proud they’re part of a great community that supports them.

“Going forward, yeah, there will be some questions asked. But we’ll intelligently and eloquently answer those questions. At the end of the day, I think everything will be good, and we’ll see where we are at the end of the year.”

Junior forward Crockett said the team is glad to have the question of who its head coach will be this season out of the way.

“I don’t have to deal with my mom and grandma asking me every day who the coach is, Crockett quipped. I think coach Walker brings — he makes it a family. He’s always open for us to come and talk to him. He’s going to bring energy. He keeps us positive at all times. I think it’s going to be a great year this year with coach Walker.”