University of Massachusets Athletics
Walker Leaves UMass Program
April 25, 2003 | Men's Basketball
April 25, 2003
Amherst, Mass. -- University of Massachusetts men's basketball coach Steve Lappas announced today that assistant coach Christopher Walker has resigned his position to pursue a career in private business. Walker was an original member of Lappas' Minuteman staff, having come to Amherst with Lappas from Villanova in the spring of 2001.
"I've known Chris a long time, having recruited him to Villanova, and I'm really going to miss him as both a colleague and more importantly as a friend," Lappas said. " He has done a tremendous job the past two years in helping build a solid foundation for this program. But, Chris came to a point in his life where he wanted to pursue a career outside college basketball, and I wish him the best with that."
Walker, an 11-year Division I coaching veteran, spent the 2000-2001 season as an assistant coach for Lappas at Villanova, and prior to that was the associate head coach at both Pepperdine (1999-2000) and Vanderbilt (1996-1999). He began his coaching career at Loyola Marymount in 1992, where he worked until moving to Vanderbilt.
A two-time All-Big Five selection, Walker started 96 games at point guard for the Wildcats and coach Rollie Massimino from 1988-92. He led Villanova in assists for three straight seasons and his 404 career assists rank as the 11th-best career total in school history. Walker led the Wildcats to four postseason bids (two NCAA, two NIT) during his collegiate career.
Born on Christmas Day 1969, Walker graduated from Villanova in 1992 with a B.A. degree in communications. He is a native of Houston, Texas.