Elizabeth City State hires new women's basketball coach

by Bonitta Best
The Triangle Tribune

Shawn Walker has had his coaching dream fulfilled.

Walker, an Elizabeth City State alumnus, was named the Vikings women'sbasketball coach a few weeks ago. He takes the position vacated byVanessa Taylor who took the same job at Johnson C. Smith, replacingBarry Street.

"A lot of times people don't get an opportunity to come back home, muchless a homecoming," said Walker, a 1994 graduate. "It's one of thosedeals where you can't really turn down the place that gave you yourfirst opportunity to get your degree."

Walker comes to ECSU after coaching the men's basketball program atVoorhees College. He compiled a 70-59 record in four years.Walker says his biggest challenge will be coaching women, something hehas never done.

"That is kind of the issue for me ... you know that there are thingsthat you have to do and things that you maybe can't do (coaching men) that's going to be a bit more of a challenge," he said. "I'm lookingforward to it."

Walker's hiring leaves three basketball coaching vacancies in the CIAA:St. Paul's men, Winston-Salem State women and St. Augustine's women.

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