Women's basketball head coach Bart Walker resigns to return to family
4/27/2010 – Walking away
NWF State women's basketball coach Bart Walker resigns post so he can be closer to his two children in Tenn.
By ADAM PRUIETT Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4421 | apruiett@nwfdailynews.com
NICEVILLE As head women's basketball coach at Northwest Florida State College, Bart Walker had everything he ever wanted in a coaching job at the junior college level.
But an ideal work environment couldn't fill the void in his life that was created by the separation from his two children, 10-year-old Molly and 5-year-old Branson, who live with their mother Amy in Knoxville, Tenn. That emotional emptiness ultimately got to be too overwhelming.
The desire to live closer to his children was the "sole reason" why Walker decided to resign Monday from his post as the head of NWF State's women's basketball program, where in two years he built a 38-16 record and led the Raiders to the postseason once. His two previous head coaching stops were at Chattanooga State Tech Community College and Hiwassee College, both in Tennessee.
"I'm excited that I'm going to be (at home) with my kids, be there any time there's a cut or a bruise, but at the same time I'm sad that I have to leave such a great place," Walker said. "It's a wonderful place to coach. I've been at three different junior colleges, and I can honestly say this is the best one as far as the administration, the support for the program and the people on campus are truly genuine people."
Walker, 41, said he's going to move to Knoxville but won't necessarily continue coaching. He's got a master's degree in education and could pursue a teaching and coaching job at the high school level. He's got family that builds homes in the Knoxville area and will "probably get back involved to some extent," and he also worked in Tennessee's Department of Labor for seven years before he began coaching and might return if an opportunity became available.
Regardless of his next job, his children will be nearby. In the summers, Molly and Branson could visit for weeks at a time. But during the school year, other than holidays, Walker would generally only be able to visit them once every two weekends because of his immersive schedule in one of junior college's best conferences.
"For two years, (my kids) sacrificed their self for their dad to try to pursue what he wanted to do and, at this point, looking back in retrospect, I think it's time for me to be a father that's handson," Walker said. " & I want to be there for them to help them and watch them and see them hit a home run. It's different when they call (and say), 'Dad, I hit a home run tonight.' You don't have that same enthusiasm because they don't see how you feel so good about it."
Walker told Athletic Director Mickey Englett of his decision Monday morning.
"This is the one reason that Bart has that I can't even get angry about or I couldn't try to talk him out of because family should come first," Englett said. "Meeting his children, they're two delightful people. To be honest with you, I think he's making the right choice.
"He's leaving with our best wishes, he's leaving with our appreciation and certainly he's leaving for the right reason."
In his first season at NWF State, Walker went 21-8 and led the Raiders to the state tournament after going 6-6 and finishing third in Panhandle Conference play. This season the Raiders went undefeated in nonconference play and rose as high as No. 5 in the national rankings, but they only went 4-8 in conference play and missed out on a postseason bid.
"Bart is one of the hardest working coaches I've ever been around. He's done a good job," Englett said. "At one time, before some discipline issues, we had a very good team. A very good team. You can never tell about discipline and team chemistry. This team did not have the same chemistry as last year's team."
Walker broke the news to his team on Monday afternoon. Sophomore forward Shavonne Seymore said she was sad at first but understands Walker's reason for leaving.
"He didn't play any games at all, and I just loved playing for coach Walker," Seymore said. " & He taught me a lot of things."
Englett expects the job to be posted within the next few days. Ideally, he'd like the hiring committee to fill the position within the next three to five weeks, but that's only if the right fit for the job is found.
Walker didn't rule out a return to coaching. He said that any job he took "would have to be within a 40-mile radius of Knoxville."
"If this job (at NWF State) was in Tennessee, it would be the best job," Walker said. "I would never leave it."