Shawn Walker was officially introduced as the new men’s basketball coach at Allen University.
“Words can’t express the excitement that I have in joining Allen University and the athletic department as the new head men’s basketball coach,” said Walker. “I am grateful to Dr. McNealy and AD (Asher) Cox for giving me this awesome opportunity.”
Walker comes to Allen most recently from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. where he served as the associate head women’s basketball coach for the 2022-23 season.
“Shawn Walker is a dynamic coach and an incredible educator of young men, who will work tirelessly to put his student-athletes in a position to succeed,” said Cox. “He is the perfect choice to lead our men’s basketball program to a place of competing consistently at a high level.”
Before Shaw, Walker was the head men’s coach at Elizabeth City State (N.C.) from 2018-2022 and led his team to 40 wins including a 14-13 winning record in the 2021-22 season.
Walker, an ECSU alum, was also the school’s head men’s coach from 2003-2014 and the head women’s coach during the 2001-02 season. While leading the ECSU men’s basketball program for 12 seasons, Walker led the Vikings to the 2007 CIAA men’s championship and amassed nearly 300 career wins during his tenure.
Prior to ECSU, Walker served as the head men’s basketball coach at Grambling State University from 2014-2017.
While at Grambling, Walker led the Tigers for three seasons amassing 25 wins and went 16-15 in his final year in 2016-17 to record Grambling’s first winning season since 1997.
Walker is bringing a solid foundation in leadership to the campus community as well and is excited to meet his team and get on the recruiting trail immediately.
“I am looking forward to new beginnings at AU and in the city of Columbia, South Carolina’s most powerful city,” said Walker.
Courtesy: Allen University
