After spending many years in school and the NBA ranks as a head coach and assistant, Rex Walters was one 12 months to focus solely on being a dad in the course of the 2024-25 basketball season.
Walters, a former NBA participant who was chief coach of Florida Atlantic and San Francisco earlier than turning into the NBA assistant for the Detroit pistonsNew Orleans PĂ©licans and Charlotte Hornets met at house after Charlotte let him go in a change of wholesale coaches after the 2024 season.
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His 12 months utterly away from the sport taught him that he nonetheless had itching within the coach. However, he needed to discover a place to do it close to his household.
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Thus, Walters started to search for jobs within the Detroit metro and utilized for the newly vacant boys’ basketball coach at Waterford Kettering shortly after watching a event within the college gymnasium.
“I went to a event for a bunch of youngsters I labored within the Lake Orion area that performed Waterford,” Walters stated. “I went to the gymnasium and stated:” Wow, it is a very good gymnasium, an exquisite college. “”
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“After which, inside two weeks, I noticed the advert saying that they had been searching for a coach and utilized.”
The work was an ideal match for Walters, who lives along with his household in Clarkston. After being launched from the Pelicans in 2021, they selected to return to Michigan as a everlasting base. First in Rochester Hills, then in Clarkston. They stayed when he labored on the employees of the Hornets underneath the coach Steve Clifford.
“I requested my household the place they needed to reside, they usually all stated Michigan,” stated Walters. “They love Michigan, love the area. They’ve had friendships and relations with folks, so now we have returned and now we have returned since then.”
He now takes close to his house – lower than quarter-hour by automotive from his home – with an opportunity to return to Secondary classification Since her first job after her skilled profession as an assistant at Blue Valley Northwest highschool in Kansas over 20 years in the past.
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His youngest son, Ace Walters, remains to be in highschool, however will keep in Clarkston and play for the Wolves basketball group.
“I all the time say to folks, even in recruitment, even the coaching of NBA gamers, probably the most enjoyable 12 months I had was to be an assistant coach in highschool,” stated Walters. “… it was close to my house. I might all the time be with my kids daily.”
Walters replaces former coach Steve Emert, who has resigned from the place, in line with college officers.
“Work ethics (Walters’), its enthusiasm – not just for basketball recreation, however to coach kids and their future – it is actually essential to us.” Allison Sartorious, sports activities director of Waterford Kettering, stated.
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He took over a Kettering group which completed 1-22 in 2024-25 and received 10 victories within the final three seasons.
Walters shall be primarily based on many years of expertise that he has acquired as a coach and participant. He performed for the temple of renown Roy Williams in Kansas and one other, the coach of Miami Warmth, Pat Riley, within the NBA. He skilled in three faculties, Valpoiso (assistant), Florida Atlantic and San Francisco, earlier than resuming the G-League des Pistons group, then known as the Grand Rapids Drive. He then joined the Pistons of Stan Van Gundy employees and adopted him to New Orleans after one other passage as an college assistant earlier than becoming a member of Clifford in Seattle.
“I need our youngsters to know work ethics, so it is easy,” stated Walters. “I performed for big and huge coaches – Stan Van Gundy, Steve Clifford – they usually say it in several methods, however every part comes all the way down to working onerous. … They will need to have work ethics, they need to be taught their job they usually should be taught to work with folks.”
The work begins this summer season. He started to plan summer season coaching and camps for his gamers as a part of the MHSAA tips for out -of -season coaching periods and a power and packaging program.
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The execution of crafts and the institution of an effort base would be the fundamental goal, quite than a “fastened” goal of an improved quantity within the Victory column. As soon as the suitable base has been put in, Walters stated success can observe.
“Pat Riley all the time advised us once I performed Miami,” should you play in the proper route, the ball will discover the online “,” stated Walters. “And I additionally imagine that should you play in the proper route, you’ll win quite a lot of matches.”
Jared Ramsey Cowl highschool sports activities for the Detroit Free Press. Contact it to [email protected]; Observe Jared X Or Bluesky.
This text initially appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rex Walters seeks to supply NBA expertise as a Waterford Kettering coach
