Sam Walker completed his 17th season as the Lions’ head men’s basketball in 2016-17, his 26th season as a member of the A&M-Commerce staff. At 26 years, Walker was on the staff for over a quarter of A&M-Commerce’s basketball history.
Following the 2016-17 season, Walker was the second-winningest active coach in the Lone Star Conference with 285 career victories, and also ranked fifth all-time in winning percentage among coaches with at least 50 career victories, winning 58.5 percent of his games.
He surpassed Jim Gudger (1969-83) as the all-time winningest coach in A&M-Commerce history when the Lions toppled reigning LSC champion Midwestern State 74-66 at the Field House on January 9, 2013, giving Walker his 202nd career victory. That win total encompasses not just the men's basketball program, but every Lion athletic team.
Walker also made his mark in the Lone Star Conference, posting a 119-110 record in conference games. The Lions captured the 2005 Lone Star Conference title with an overall record of 28-5 and 10-2 in conference play. Most recently, the Lions hauled in the LSC Championship in 2014-15 after a 24-8 mark that including a 9-5 record in conference action. Walker's teams have qualified for the LSC Championship Tournament 15 times under his direction, including each of the past 13 seasons. Under Walker, the Lions have made the NCAA Regional Tournament three times (2004-05, 2014-15 and 2016-17). Walker has been on the staff for all six NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, the other three as an assistant coach.
Under Walker’s tutelage, 42 players have been recognized as All-Lone Star Conference selections, including 12 first team honorees. He has coached two Lone Star Conference Players of the Year (Jemart Miller in 2004-05, Darrell Williams, 2014-15), five LSC Newcomers of the Year, three LSC Freshmen of the Year, a Daktronics First Team All-American (Darrell Williams in 2014-15), and a Daktronics Third Team All-American (Scooby Johnson in 2007-08).
| First Team All-LSC |
Second Team All-LSC |
All-LSC Honorable Mention |
2016-17-Malik Albert
2015-Darrell Williams
2014-LaDon Carnegie
2011-Desmond King
2010-Ronnie Morgan
2009-DeUndrae Spraggins
2008-Scooby Johnson
2007-Lamar Searight
2005-Jermart Miller
2003-Micah Reed
2002-Tyrone Palmer
2001-Tyrone Palmer
|
2016-Anthony Adams
2016-Bryant Crowder
2015-LaDon Carnegie
2015-Christian Macauley
2014-Devondrick Walker
2010-Brad Hambrick
2009-Brad Hambrick
2008-Cardell Hunter
2008-Brian Singleton
2005-Matthew Rager
2005-Allen Walker
2003-Clay Lewkowski |
2016-Ronnie White
2013-Preston Whitley
2012-Desmond King
2011-Tyris Dowell
2009-Rashad Brown
2007-Bobby Joshua
2007-Champ Sylvester
2007-Kevin Widemond
2006-Chris Fantroy
2006-Jermart Miller
2006-Lamar Searight
2005-Chris Fantroy
2004-Thaddeus Daggett
2004-Clay Lewkowski
2003-Thaddeus Daggett
2002-Ross Hodge
2001-Fabian Pittman |
| Third Team All-LSC |
All-Region |
Daktronics All-America |
2016-17-Trey Seymore
|
2015-Darrell Williams
2005-Jermart Miller
2002-Tyrone Palmer |
2015-Darrell Williams (1st)
2008-Scooby Johnson (3rd
|
Walker also ensured the Lions excelled in the classroom. During the 2011-12 season, the Lions notched an impressive feat as Desmond King (first team) and Andrew Davis (third team) were both named CoSIDA 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 for the first of two consecutive seasons.
The Lions remain active in the Commerce community, assisting at various schools across the area. During winter break, Walker routinely takes his players to read and talk to the students of Commerce Elementary School and Commerce Middle School. The Lions are also active participants in activities at the Commerce Children’s Learning Center and the annual Commerce Lions Club Carnival.
After serving as an assistant coach for eight years under Paul Peak, including one season as the associate head coach, Walker officially took over the reins of the A&M-Commerce basketball program on May 5, 2000.
In the 2004-05 season, the Lions posted a 28-5 mark on the year, the most wins and highest winning percentage since the 1954-55 NAIA national championship team (29-5). The Lions won the LSC South Division with a 10-2 overall record and captured their 17th Lone Star Conference championship, defeating West Texas A&M 77-62 in the title game of the LSC tournament. A&M-Commerce then qualified for its first NCAA Division II tournament since 1998, defeating Southwestern Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma before falling to Tarleton State 75-70 in the regional finals. Walker was recognized as the Lone Star Conference, NCAA South Central Regional and Texas Small College Coach of the Year. He was also tabbed the NCAA Division II Coach of the Month for January 2005.
Joining Peak in his second season, Walker was a key reason for the Lions’ success throughout the 1990s. During that time, A&M-Commerce won the 1996 Lone Star Conference Championship, the 1998 LSC 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.
As an assistant coach, Walker began to establish his reputation as one of the top recruiters in the state of Texas and in the southwest, a reputation that continues to this day. He has developed an extensive network of local talent, both on the high school and junior college levels.
Walker began his career in coaching while serving as a student assistant at both Sam Houston State (1989-91) and Navarro Junior College (1987-88).
Walker is a 1991 graduate of Sam Houston State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health. He then attained his master’s degree in health and physical education from East Texas State in 1993.
Walker is married to the former Alison Minah and the couple resides in Commerce with their four children; Teddy, Charlie, Sally, and Jack.
Walker's Career Coaching Record
| Year |
School |
Overall
Record |
Pct. |
Conf. Record |
Pct. |
Postseason |
| 2000-01 |
A&M-Commerce |
17-10 |
.630 |
7-5 |
.583 |
LSC First Round |
| 2001-02 |
A&M-Commerce |
10-19 |
.345 |
4-8 |
.333 |
None |
| 2002-03 |
A&M-Commerce |
16-12 |
.571 |
6-6 |
.500 |
LSC First Round |
| 2003-04 |
A&M-Commerce |
13-14 |
.481 |
4-8 |
.333 |
None |
| 2004-05 |
A&M-Commerce |
28-5 |
.848 |
10-2 |
.833 |
- LSC CHAMPS
- NCAA Regional Finals |
| 2005-06 |
A&M-Commerce |
16-12 |
.571 |
6-6 |
.500 |
LSC First Round |
| 2006-07 |
A&M-Commerce |
14-14 |
.500 |
7-5 |
.583 |
LSC First Round |
| 2007-08 |
A&M-Commerce |
14-16 |
.467 |
7-5 |
.583 |
LSC Final |
| 2008-09 |
A&M-Commerce |
17-11 |
.607 |
8-4 |
.667 |
LSC First Round |
| 2009-10 |
A&M-Commerce |
19-9 |
.679 |
8-4 |
.667 |
LSC First Round |
| 2010-11 |
A&M-Commerce |
18-9 |
.667 |
8-4 |
.667 |
LSC First Round |
| 2011-12 |
A&M-Commerce |
10-17 |
.370 |
5-13 |
.278 |
LSC First Round |
| 2012-13 |
A&M-Commerce |
14-15 |
.611 |
7-11 |
.389 |
LSC First Round |
| 2013-14 |
A&M-Commerce |
19-9 |
.679 |
7-7 |
.500 |
LSC Semifinals |
| 2014-15 |
A&M-Commerce |
24-8 |
.750 |
9-5 |
.643 |
- LSC CHAMPS
- NCAA Regional Quarterfinals |
| 2015-16 |
A&M-Commerce |
17-11 |
.607 |
6-8 |
.429 |
LSC First Round |
| 2016-17 |
A&M-Commerce |
19-11 |
.633 |
10-8 |
.556 |
LSC Second Round
- NCAA Regional Quarterfinals |
| TOTALS |
17 Seasons |
285-202 |
.585 |
119-110 |
.520 |
-2 LSC Championships
15 LSC Tournament Appearances
- 3 Regional Appearances |
