Al Walker Explained

Al Walker
Birth Date:	19 March 1959
Birth Place:	Queens, New York, U.S.
Player Years1:	1978–1981
Player Team1:	Brockport
Coach Years1:	1988–1993
Coach Team1:	Colorado College
Coach Years2:	1993–1996
Coach Team2:	Cornell
Coach Years3:	1996–2000
Coach Team3:	Chaminade
Coach Years4:	2000–2007
Coach Team4:	Binghamton
Coach Years5:	2012–2013
Coach Team5:	Buffalo (assistant, women's)
Overall Record:	234–279

Al Walker (born March 19, 1959) is an American former basketball coach. He currently is a pro personnel scout for the Detroit Pistons of the NBA, a position he'd held since 2015.^{[1] [2]} He played college basketball for the Brockport Golden Eagles, won a gold medal with Team USA in the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Israel, and played one year of pro basketball in Israel. He served as the head coach for the Colorado College, Cornell University, Chaminade University of Honolulu and Binghamton University men's basketball teams.

Biography

Playing career

Walker played college basketball from 1978 to 1981 for the Brockport Golden Eagles.^[3] He earned honorable mention on the Small College All-American team.^[4] At Brockport, in 2012 he ranked fifth all-time in rebounds (706; 2nd at the time of his graduation) and 20th in scoring (856), while playing only three seasons.^[5]

He graduated magna cum laude with a BS in physical education from Brockport State College in 1981, and earned a masters in sports psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill.^{[3] [6]}

Walker is Jewish, and played basketball for Team USA in the 1981 Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a gold medal with David Blatt, Danny Schayes (the first round draft pick of the NBA's Utah Jazz), and Willie Sims.^{[3] [7] [8]} In 1982 he then played one year of pro basketball in Israel.^[4]

Coaching career

Walker served as the head coach for the Colorado College, Cornell, Chaminade and Binghamton men's basketball teams.^[9] Walker was also an advance scout for the Orlando Magic for five seasons until 2012, and an assistant for the University of Buffalo women's basketball team from 2012 to 2013.^{[10] [11]} From 2013 to 2015, he returned to Colorado College where he worked in the Major Gifts office.^[12]

Notes and References

1. https://www.nba.com/.element/media/2.0/teamsites/pistons/files/1819_leadership.pdf Detroit Pistons Leadership
2. Web site: George David resigns, Pistons hire Al Walker and Art Luptowski. 1 July 2014.
3. News: Sports; COACH SET FOR ISRAELI GAMES. Esther. Blaustein. The New York Times . July 5, 1981.
4. Web site: Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sports. starbulletin.com.
5. Al Walker Named To Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. July 19, 2012. buffalo.prestosports.com.
6. Web site: 2006-07 Cornell Men's Basketball Media Guide by Jeremy Hartigan . issuu.com.
7. News: Basketball Talent On Stage at Xavier; Xavier Provides a Basketball Showcase. Sam. Goldaper. The New York Times . June 23, 1981.
8. Web site: Danny Schayes Appointed As A Member of the Basketball Staff For The 2018 International Maccabi Youth Games.
9. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-06-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611185627/http://www.bubearcats.com/sports/mbask/staff0607.pdf . 2011-06-11 . dead .
10. Web site: 2010-11 Orlando Magic Media Guide . 2011-06-22 . 2012-10-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017112116/http://issuu.com/kcannon/docs/mediaguide_forweb . dead .
11. Web site: Al Walker Named To Women's Basketball Coaching Staff. 19 July 2012. Buffalo. 13 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140314013823/http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/wbkb/2012-13/releases/201207192z82rs. 14 March 2014. dead.
12. Web site: New Employees Archive • Human Resources Colorado College. www.coloradocollege.edu. 2019-05-02. 2019-05-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502051219/https://www.coloradocollege.edu/offices/humanresources/news-and-events/new-employees-archive.html. dead.