University of Evansville Director of Athletics Mark Spencer has announced that Evansville native and current Boston Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty has agreed to terms to become the next head men’s basketball coach for the Purple Aces.
“I could not be more thrilled with the amount of interest we had in our head coaching position, but it became very evident that Walter McCarty was 100% the right man for the job,” Spencer said. “His personality, experience and infectious energy really set him apart. Nobody would have been able to sell Evansville to recruits like Walter McCarty.”
McCarty has been on the staff of the Boston Celtics since 2013, working with head coach Brad Stevens. From 2007-2010, he was an assistant under Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville and spent the 2010-11 campaign working on Jim O’Brien’s staff with the Indiana Pacers.
“This is an exciting time for the University of Evansville. We are pleased to welcome Walter McCarty to the Purple Aces family,” UE President Dr. Tom Kazee said. “Throughout the interview process, Walter stood out as the candidate that fit best at our university and our goals. His energy and vision were unparalleled.”
A native of Evansville, McCarty was a standout at Harrison High School before attending the University of Kentucky in 1993. He played a pivotal role in the 1996 National Championship team that went 34-2, averaging 11.3 points per game. Upon his graduation from UK, McCarty was selected by the New York Knicks with the 19th pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. In a professional career that spanned 10 seasons, McCarty spent time with the Knicks, Celtics, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.
McCarty will be introduced at a celebration on Friday evening at 5:30 p.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse and presented by German American Bank. This is open to the public.
