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Luke Walton officially joins Tigers staff
By Adam Douglas-->Sports Reporter
Published: Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Updated: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 02:08
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University of Memphis head basketball head coach Josh Pastner officially welcomed current Los Angeles Lakers forward Luke Walton to the Tigers coaching staff on Saturday at the Larry O. Finch Center.
Walton worked mainly with post players during an afternoon workout, while giving other Tigers some pointers on how to take their games to the next level.
"He was one of the most vocal coaches out there," said sophomore forward Tarik Black. "I want to listen to everything he has to say. He's where we want to be, as far as being in the NBA. So if it's a pool of knowledge that he's trying to teach, then I want to swim in it."
A picture taken of the 1973 NCAA championship game hung nearby as Walton spoke during a media session on Saturday. Hi father, Bill Walton, was 21-of-22 from the field in the game, leading his UCLA Bruins to the title over a U of M team coached by Larry Finch.
"Yeah that's ‘Big Red' right there," Walton said, gesturing to his father in the photo. "I know my name has a historical reference in this city. It's kind of funny how all things come full circle. My father took a championship away from Memphis back then – now I'm here to help bring one here."
Pastner said he was pleased with Walton's transition to coaching since his arrival on Friday.
"I've got to give coach Walton credit," Pastner said. "He dove right in and began coaching. He did an exceptional job, as did coach Stoudamire and coach Murphy."
Walton said that the longer he's here, the more involved with the team he'll become.
"Today was a take-in day today," Walton said on Saturday. "I really didn't want to get involved as much – I will get more vocal as things progress. But I was just trying to see how things ran around here, getting to know the personnel and getting to know the kids."
Walton getting closer to the team, Pastner said, means Tigers players benefiting from the experiences of a seasoned professional who has competed against, and alongside, some of basketball's greatest current players.
"Luke will be a great coach because he brings a wealth of knowledge and a winning attitude to the Tigers program," Pastner said. "His experiences, which include playing in four NBA Finals and winning two NBA world championships, are lessons that he can share with our players to help them grow and develop their games – that's something that you cannot teach at this level."
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Tigers running back Jerrell Rhodes sprints upfield during a recent practice. The 5-10, 215-pound sophomore led the Tigers in rushing in the 2010 season with 505 yards on 115 carries.Related Articles
After a tough first season where his Tigers finished with a 1-11 record, University of Memphis head football coach Larry Porter thinks that his 2011 team is more talented and deeper than last year's group. No longer taking snaps for Memphis are last year's two starting quarterbacks. Ryan Williams transferred to Miami and Cannon Smith switched positions to defensive back. Also gone is quarterback Tyler Bass, running back Marcus Hightower, wide receiver Jermaine McKenzie and his cornerback twin brother Tremaine, cornerbacks Mohammed Seisay and Todd Washington, all of whom transferred. And despite the departure of several key seniors, Porter said that his second season as head coach looks much brighter than the first.
"I'm really excited to try and complete this team by putting it together," Porter said. "Obviously there are still a few positions that we are looking to try and fill, but overall I feel as though we are much deeper, stronger and faster across the board. I feel as though we are two-deep at every position," Porter said. "And also the players are holding one another more accountable this year due to the leadership we have. So you will see a different team this year."
The Tigers will continue using the spread offense — a strategy that brought success to the program while going to four bowl games during former head coach Tommy West's 10-year tenure — with two quarterbacks. Wake Forest transfer Skylar Jones, a 6-feet 1-inch dual-threat quarterback, will be featured in the offense, Porter says, and if he's not the starter, he should see significant time under center with his own package of plays. Jones should push 6-5, 220-pound sophomore Andy Summerlin, who is currently No. 1 on the depth chart, for the starting QB job. Still lurking behind them will be 6-1, 190-pound sophomore Will Gilchrist and 6-3, 215-pound true freshman Taylor Reed, both of whom are looking to get chances to lead the first-team offense. Wide receiver Marcus Rucker, a 6-4, 185-pound junior who led Tigers receivers in every major statistical category last season, is the lone veteran of the young and inexperienced group. Alongside Rucker will be sure-handed 6-1, 180-pound senior wideout Tanner Rehrer, who hauled in 23 catches for 284 yards in 2010. Senior Billy Foster, a 5-10, 185-pound receiver and running back will also be featured at times in the backfield. Running back Jerrell Rhodes, a 5-10, 215-pound sophomore is the returning leading rusher from last year's squad. As a true freshman, he showed flashes of brilliance in the backfield for the Tigers. Sharing the load with senior Greg Ray, Rhodes played in 10 games last season with one start, amassing 505 yards and one touchdown on 115 carries. He should carry the load this year along with dual-threat wide receiver and running back Billy Foster and freshman Artaves Gibson spelling him at times.
"Offensively, we have bigger, stronger, faster guys at every position," Porter said. "We are two-deep and have speed, something that we didn't have in the past. Plus guys are competing against one another in practice," Porter said. "And that's what every coach looks for out of his team – competition at every level."
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