Texas A&M University-Commerce head men’s basketball coach Sam Walker sits on the verge of a pair of impressive coaching milestone as the Lions head into a three-game road trip to close out the 2012 calendar season.
Walker, who is in his 13th season at the helm of the Lion basketball program and his 21st with the university, has compiled a 199-150 career record, needing just one more win to reach the 200-win plateau. In addition, Walker is just three victories shy of surpassing Jim Gudger as the all-time winningest coach in A&M-Commerce program history. Gudger posted a 201-190 record for the Lions from 1969-1983 and was inducted into the A&M-Commerce Hall of Fame in 1992.
Heading into the 2012-13 season, Walker had compiled an overall coaching record of 192-148, which includes a Lone Star Conference championship as well as an NCAA Regional Finals appearance in 2004-05. The Lions are 7-2 through the first nine games of 2012-13, including a 2-0 mark in LSC play with wins over Abilene Christian and Angelo State.
Under Walker’s tutelage, 32 players have been recognized as All-Lone Star Conference selections, including nine first team honorees. He has coached a Lone Star Conference Player of the Year (Jemart Miller in 2004-05), four LSC Newcomers of the Year, two LSC Freshmen of the Year and a Daktronics Third Team All-American (Scooby Johnson in 2007-08).
Walker has also ensured the Lions have excelled in the classroom as well. During the 2011-12 season, the Lions notched an impressive feat as Desmond King (first team) and Andrew Davis (third team) were both named Capital One Academic All-Americans, making A&M-Commerce the only program in the country at the Division I, II or III level to have a pair of Academic All-Americans. In addition, Davis was named the Lone Star Conference Men’s Basketball Academic Player of the Year.
A 1991 graduate of Sam Houston State University, Walker first came to Commerce as an assistant coach under former head coach and Hall of Famer Paul Peak. Working alongside Peak, the Lions won the 1996 Lone Star Conference Championship, the 1998 South Division Championship and made three consecutive NCAA Division II tournament appearances in 1995-96, 1996-97 and 1997-98. During the 1997 tournament, the Lions were the NCAA South Central Regional Champions, advancing to the Elite Eight.
A&M-Commerce’s postseason success has continued under Walker as the Lions have reached the Lone Star Conference tournament in 10 of Walker’s 12 seasons, including eight consecutive years – the longest current streak in the conference.
Walker’s Lions travel to Dallas Baptist this Saturday to open up the three-game road trip. A&M-Commerce then visits Ouachita Baptist on Dec. 18 followed by a game at Southern Arkansas on Dec. 19. The Lions’ next home game will be on Wednesday, January 2nd facing Lone Star Conference opponent Incarnate Word. Follow us on twitter at @Lion_Athletics and stay tuned with us live for stats, video, and radio available at LionAthletics.com.
Sports
Walker closing in on 200 wins
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A&M-Commerce Lion Safari Tour starts tonight in Houston
The 2013 A&M-Commerce Lion Safari Tour gets underway tonight, making its first stop in Houston. The tour visits Minute Maid Park for the Houston Astros game against the Chicago White Sox at 7 p.m. this evening, before heading to Austin tomorrow.
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A&M-Commerce athletes named to spring honor roll
One hundred eight A&M-Commerce student-athletes have been named to the Spring 2013 Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. The honor caps what was a tremendous academic year for Lion student-athletes in 2012-13.
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Soccer squad signs seven
Texas A&M University-Commerce head soccer coach Neil Piper today announced the seven incoming freshmen that comprise the 2013 recruiting class. Each of these future Lions will begin competing for A&M-Commerce this fall.
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Jordyn Sharp named district MVP
If the all-district softball awards are any indication, the Commerce Lady Tiger softball team has a good future to look forward to.
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65 Lions receive academic recognition for 2013 spring semester
With the spring semester in the books, a number of A&M-Commerce student-athletes demonstrated what it truly means to be a student-athlete as 65 Lions were recognized with academic honors.
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Lady Tigers coach looks to build on success of softball program
The Commerce High School Lady Tigers deep playoff run came to an end on May 17 as the Tigers lost two close games against number one ranked Pilot Point in the regional semifinals.
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Lady Tigers softball look to topple number one ranked Pilot Point
Tomorrow the Commerce High School Lady Tigers Softball team will play Pilot Point, the number one ranked team in the state.
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Wilson wins gold, silver at state track meet
Buck Wilson of Commerce won gold and silver medals this weekend at the state meet while Rains pole vaulter Charlotte Brown won over a lot of hearts.
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Soccer field receives needed repair
This time the second time is the charm.
Last year Texas A&M University-Commerce hired a landscaping crew to rebuild the women’s soccer field in order to fix severe drainage issues plaguing the field.
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Commerce athletics receive boost in funding
Championship teams bring in money.
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A&M-Commerce Lion Safari Tour starts tonight in Houston
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