While one of the two Waterford schools will go back into the Oakland Activities Association wearing the boys basketball crown of their former conference, the other is still searching for its way.
At least the latter, Waterford Kettering, has picked the man the Captains hope can steer the ship out of the storm, announcing on Monday the hiring of former college and NBA player and coach Rex Walters as their new head coach.
In a social media post entitled ‘We Got Our Guy,’ the Captains listed off the resume of the 55-year-old Walters, and it is extensive:
– Played at Northwestern and Kansas.
– Drafted with the 16th pick in the first round of the 1993 NBA Draft (held at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and headlined by local star Chris Webber).
– Played professionally for 10 seasons, with NBA stops with the New Jersey Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat.
– Assistant coaching stops at Valparaiso and Florida Atlantic, before acting as the head coach of FAU and San Francisco, where he earned WCC coach of the year honors in 2014.
– Head coach of the Pistons G-League team in Grand Rapids, the Drive, a season on the Pistons bench as an assistant, single seasons at Nevada and Wake Forest, a season with the New Orleans Pelicans and two with the Hornets.
He’ll have to continue the rebuilding job that longtime Oakland County coach Steve Emert began over the last three seasons.
While cross town rival Waterford Mott has had a share of the last four Lakes Valley Conference titles, the Captains have been on the opposite end of the standings each of those seasons. The last time they were relatively level was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, when they finished tied with each other for sixth place (both 3-5).
From that 7-10 season, though, the Captains went 2-19 in the single season (2021-22) under Stefon Wilson, then went 10-59 overall in Emert’s three seasons (3-45 in LVC play).
There will at least be a modicum of familiarity with the OAA for Walters, who got a look at the league when his younger son, Gunner, played for Rochester Adams before graduating in 2022.
Originally Published: March 31, 2025 at 7:28 PM EDT