USC Upstate women’s basketball coach Tammy George has announced the addition of Johnette Walker to the women’s basketball coaching staff. Walker joins the Spartan family after spending the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach at Francis Marion University.
“I am excited to have Johnette join our staff at Upstate,” George said. “Her passion for basketball will make her a huge asset in our program. I look forward to continuing to grow this program with Johnette’s help and can’t wait to get started.”
During her lone season at Francis Marion, Walker helped coach the Patriots to an NCAA Division II Southeast Region title and a visit to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the second time in school history. Francis Marion finished the season with a 24-9 record.
Walker, a native of Columbia, S.C., graduated from Radford University in 2009 with a B.S. in exercise sport and health education. Walker played under current Francis Marion head coach Jeri Porter while Porter was the head coach for the Highlanders and was named the Big South Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09, and was named to the All-Conference Team as well as the All-Academic Team twice. She is currently the Highlanders’ sixth-leading career scorer with 1,238 points and the conference career leader in steals with 348. Walker is one of four players in Big South history to have 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals in her career.
Following her collegiate career, Walker played six seasons professionally overseas in Germany and averaged at least 15 points and six rebounds in five of six seasons.
“I am extremely excited and very grateful for this coaching opportunity,” Walker stated. “Thank you to Coach George for giving me the opportunity to guide, teach and train these young athletes. I look forward to having a positive impact on their lives on and off the court. I want to evolve more as a coach and learn as much as I can from the USC Upstate coaching staff and I also look forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences.
http://www.upstatespartans.com/sports/w-baskbl/2015-16/releases/20160705ddeqgx
