When Terry Walters was hired out of retirement to coach the girls basketball team at Columbus Christian Academy in 2014, it was a way for him to hang on to the sport he’d loved his whole life.
“It was something to do,” Walters told The Dispatch. “That’s all I’ve done for close to 30 years. I enjoy doing it; I enjoy working with the kids in basketball. I just enjoy being around them.”
After spending four years at Baldwyn, 14 years at Hamilton, eight years at Hatley and three years at Columbus Christian, Walters’ coaching journey isn’t over yet.
Hired Friday as the new girls coach at Oak Hill Academy in West Point, Walters will be able to keep doing what he loves.
“Oak Hill has a tradition about girls basketball, so I hope I can live up to tradition and hopefully make them better and more competitive than they were last year,” Walters said.
As the No. 4 seed in District 2, the Raiders lost to North Delta School 70-30 in the first round of the MAIS Class 3A north state tournament.
“I know they were competitive already, but I hope I can teach them some more basketball and teach them some more things about life that can make them a better individual and a better player,” Walters said.
A 1977 graduate of Hatley, Walters had retired from the school in 2014 when CCA coach Billy Thomas reached out to him about taking over the girls program. In the MAIS’ smallest classification, Walters learned what was different about
“It let me know that there are a few differences — not many differences — in coaching in public schools and private schools,” he said. “Mainly, we worry about the kids, and all kids are the same no matter where they are.”
After three years, Walters left CCA to spend more time watching his grandson play at Hatley. He worked for Families First in the meantime but was laid off in October, and his grandson played his senior season this spring. (The timing actually “worked out good,” Walters said.)
Walters’ time with the Rams reminded him that he could still coach, and he wasn’t ready to be done just yet. He contacted Oak Hill athletic director Phil Ferguson about the opening and proved himself worthy of the job.
Walters will take over for Mindy Bowman, who is stepping down from her position but will remain at the school as a teacher. Bowman, who coached the Raiders’ high school team for three years and had 30 years of coaching under her belt, also led Oak Hill’s track team.
Theo DeRosa reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.
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