Friday, April 28, 2006

Rex Walters, who began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant with the Crusaders from 2003-05, has been named the sixth Head Men's Basketball Coach at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla.

Walters helped the Brown and Gold to an 18-13 record and a Mid-Continent Conference Championship in his first season, and returned to the bench for Valpo's 15-16 2004-05 season. Walters left for Florida Atlantic before the start of last season to serve as the Associate Head Coach under Matt Doherty, who left earlier this week to take over the Southern Methodist basketball program.

A standout college player at Kansas and Northwestern, Walters led the Jayhawks to back-to-back Big Eight Conference titles and a spot in the 1993 Final Four, the same season in which he was named Big Eight Male Athlete of the Year. The standout shooter then played seven seasons in the NBA with New Jersey, Philadelphia and Miami, averaging just under five points per game.

Walters is one of two former Homer Drew assistants currently leading a Division I men's basketball program, joining former Valpo head coach Scott Drew of Baylor.