An assistant coach of one of the NJCAA's top programs hasaccepted a job at Ball State. Former St. Louis starting guardJamall Walker has been selected to replace Howard Moore as anassistant coach for the men's basketball team.
Walker, who was a point guard at St. Louis University, willrecruit, scout, and help the guards with their perimeter play undercoach Tim Buckley. Buckley was unavailable for comment.
"Well, the opportunity to work for coach Buckley was the main[reason I chose Ball State]," Walker said. "He moves on guys tobigger jobs, but the real thing is he'll make me a better coach.You know, the conference the school's in - it's a really goodconference. We have an opportunity to do some real good in thisconference."
Jamall Walker spent four years at Saint Louis University from1995 to 1999, and served as co-captain for his final two years.Walker holds the record for most assists in a game and is among thetop ten in total 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted, totalassists, total steals, assists in a season and was named to theC-USA All-Freshman team in 1995-1996.
"I think my college experience will help tremendously," Walkersaid. "I have an opportunity to share my experience with the guys.I use that in my coaching."
Before his collegiate experience, he went to Wichita South HighSchool, which went 69-3 during his stay and was named the 1995Gatorade Kansas High School Player of the Year.
After college, Walker went to his former coach Steve Eck, whohad a job at Redlands Community College in El Reno, Oklahoma, insearch of an assistant coaching job.
"I coached him since he was in 6th or 7th grade," Eck said."Then he wanted to come here and coach for me. I told him to get ahigh school job and get some money, because the pay isn't good incommunity college. He's just very, very good with student athletes,and good with the coaches. He has this even-steven-type attitude.He's just a solid person."
Last year at Redlands, the men's basketball teams was ranked No.1 NJCAA Division I basketball in the nation, and finished runner upin the championship. At Redlands Walker performed a variety oftasks, including several of the tasks he will perform at BallState.
"He's recruited for us," Eck said. "He scouted games for me, hewas on the court coaching, he broke down game film and broke downpractice film for me, he was tutoring student-athletes in studyhalls, he did about anything he could."
While Walker has never attended a Ball State game, he waswatched the team on tape and attended a couple of practices thissummer. He is optimistic about the team's chances this year.
"We have an opportunity to be really good next year," he said."The guys are working hard, and it will show."
After losing only two seniors and none of the guards, Walker hasa lot of seasoned players to work with on the perimeter in hisfirst season as an NCAA assistant coach.
"I'm happy to be here," he said. "I'm looking forward to asuccessful year."
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