This past spring, Darrell Walker was named head coach of the men’s basketball team at historically Black Clark Atlanta University. Walker’s resume is impressive. An All-American basketball player at the University of Arkansas, he was a first round draft pick of the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association in 1983. During his 10 NBA seasons he was a member of the 1992-93 Chicago Bulls team that won the NBA championship. After his playing days were over, Walker served as head coach for the Toronto Raptors and the Washington Wizards of the NBA.
Coach Walker has got his team off to a good start with a 4-3 record, as of December 2. But Coach Walker is making an impact off the court as well. In November, the inaugural Darrell Walker Art and Basketball Fundraiser was held. Walker used his contacts in the sports, entertainment, and arts fields to secure donations of artwork and memorabilia that were auctioned off to raise money to pay for summer school tuition and other academic services for the players on this team.
As a result of the fundraiser, every player on the Clark Atlanta men’s basketball team will be able to attend summer school for free. Coach Walker has expressed the opinion that it is more important for his athletes to earn a degree at Clark Atlanta than it is for them to win basketball games.
Congratulations Darrell Walker! You deserve this!!! Congratulations to Clark Atlanta University! You selected a top-notch individual to lead your basketball team.