Former University of Kansas men’s basketball guard Rex Walters has been named head coach at Regis University, an NCAA Div. II school located in Denver.
Regis athletic director Tommy Gilhooly made the announcement Wednesday.
Walters, 55, who played at KU two seasons (1991-92, 1992-93) after starting his college career at Northwestern, most recently was an assistant coach for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. The entire coaching staff was replaced after the 2023-24 season, thus Walters took a year off from coaching in 24-25.
In April he was named head coach at Waterford Kettering High School in Michigan, where he worked with the school’s players this past spring and summer.
Walters is pleased to be headed back to college basketball. He’s been a college head basketball coach at both Florida Atlantic (two seasons) and San Francisco (eight).
Walters wrote on his Instagram page Wednesday: “Excited about the opportunity to Coach, Recruit and Help Student-Athletes Do Great Things On and Off the Basketball Court. @Regis has an Amazing University, City and People…Let’s Get To Work!”
He added in the school’s release announcing his hiring: “I can’t express how excited I am about this opportunity at Regis University. From my first conversation with Tommy Gilhooly, I got fired up about coaching and recruiting true student-athletes and building upon a proud basketball program. I wouldn’t be here without those conversations with Tommy and his vision for the men’s basketball program and the entire athletics department.”
Walters added: “Tommy has a vision that I believe in. Regis has so much to offer. To think that I get to live in a great city, work for a great university alongside great people is what it is all about. There is a lot of work to be done but I will focus on our men’s basketball being the best we can be in the classroom, the community and on the basketball court. When you watch us play at the fieldhouse, I want you saying, ‘That team plays hard, smart and together.’ I cannot wait to get to work. My family and I look forward to working with all of you to showcase how special Regis University is. Let’s Go!”
Walters becomes the school’s 11th head coach since the program’s inception in 1946.
“Besides coach Walters’ impressive playing and coaching career (including seven years in NBA), what stood out was his desire to be an authentic member of our Regis community with intention and Magis,” Gilhooly said Wednesday. “During our departmental-wide interview process it was clear to everyone that he is a man for others, a true servant leader and wants to build not only a remarkable basketball program but also support the lift of the entire Regis athletics family. He is one of us. Welcome to the Battalion Coach, Go Rangers!”
Walters on Wednesday also sent a message to players from the Detroit-area high school he had planned to work at in 2025-26.
“I am sorry to say that I will not be coaching at Waterford Kettering High School,” Walters wrote on social media site X. “To the young men that I got to work with, I just want to express how much I enjoyed the time spent with you. You are all good young men that worked extremely hard in the spring and summer. I know it was short and we had goals, but I am looking forward to following the team from afar. To the good people at Kettering High School and the Waterford School District, you all were nothing but great to me and I thank you for the opportunity.”
Walters has been an assistant coach at Valparaiso, Florida Atlantic, Nevada, Wake Forest and also for NBA teams Charlotte, New Orleans and Detroit. He also was a head coach one season in the NBA G League.
Walters, a two-time first-team all-Big Eight selection at Kansas, was West Coast Conference coach of the year in 2014.
Walters was a part of two Big Eight title teams and reached one Final Four in his two seasons at KU. He was Big Eight newcomer of the year in 1992, Big Eight male athlete of the Year in 1993, and AP honorable mention All-America in 1993. Walters led KU in scoring both years, totaled 68 starts, and averaged 15.6 points per game on 51% shooting and 42% from 3.
He was chosen No. 16 overall in the 1993 NBA Draft.
Following his time in the NBA, Walters played professionally in Spain as well as two stints with the ABA Kansas City Knights.