April 14, 2008

Rex Walters USF Introductory Press Conference
Monday, April 14, 2008

Search Committee Chair Chuck Smith:
"We've had the opportunity to meet an individual that I'm sure when you get a chance to meet him, you'll all say the same. He's the right person, at the right time, to take us to the next level. He represents not only the values, but all of the virtues that a Jesuit education is all about. He's the best at what he does in that area and he is also a fine family man and a great basketball coach. I'm sure as you get to know him, you will share my enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of the entire search committee. By the way, it was a unanimous selection on the part of the committee, that we selected this man for this job."

Athletic Director Debi Gore-Mann:
"I want to thank the committee members. It was a thoughtful group, a group of high integrity. Everyone really brought their perspective of the university to the project of hiring our next basketball coach."

"What ended up being the common string among us was our love for USF and USF athletics and we think we've found the right fit, so we're very excited about it."

"Coach Roy Williams has his fingerprints all over Coach Walters. He speaks to the integrity of the academic-athletic experience, and there is a wealth of basketball knowledge and experience in the coach we've hired."

USF Head Men's Basketball Coach Rex Walters:

On returning to USF after being recruited as a player by the Dons:
"Coach Brovelli, I am signing on. He recruited me back in the day so I am officially signing my letter of intent 20 years late."

On the influence of Coach Roy Williams:
"I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Coach Williams. He means an awful lot to me. I've been exposed to unbelievable things because of my time with him. I've been really, really blessed. "

On returning to the Bay Area and USF:
"Growing up in the Bay Area, I used to come here (War Memorial Gym) on Saturday's and play in a spring development league. I know this gym very well. I think about the tradition here in San Francisco, the Championships, and the days of Russell, Coach Jones, and Cartwright. USF set the standard for College Basketball and my goal is to make sure that USF gets back to that. I'll work extremely hard everyday to get there."

On getting started at USF:
"When I talk about what I'm going to do with the players, there are three things that I stress. My number one goal is to prepare these men for life after basketball. Education is so important to me. The second thing is that I'm going to work extremely hard to develop their game and make them the best basketball players they can be. The last part is that we're going to win Championships."

"I expect unbelievable concentration and effort, on the court, in the classroom and in the community. And when you put on that USF uniform, it's going to mean an awful lot more to you because of that."

Coaching Philosophy:
"At Kansas, we always talked about three things. Playing harder, playing smarter, and playing more together. It sounds simple, but it is hard and we're going to strive for that everyday."

"Defensively we're going to protect the paint. There are no free passes. We'll be a physical, tough minded team. We'll contest all shots and we'll have hard physical box outs."

"Offensively, we're going to share the basketball with our teammates. We're going to do this together."

"There are two things I control with you guys (pointing at the team); I control how much you run and I control how much you sit."

"We do have a chance to be really good this year. There is something special here; there is something special about the City. I don't worry so much about what happened in the past, I'm more worried about USF basketball today and in the future."

Factors involved with returning to the Bay Area:
"One of the biggest motivations was to be able to come back home. I know that there has been a lot of talk about USF hiring an East Coast guy, but I am a Bay Area guy. From third grade on, this is where I made my home. I've always wanted to get back desperately. Talking about USF, we see the trophy case, we see the names on the wall of the gym and that really excited me."

"I was smiling from ear to ear when I finally realized this was going to happen. This is a great job and a great opportunity."

Goals for the program:
"I talk about the journey more so than I talk about the destination. I talk about the hard practices, and there will be hard practices. I talk about the breakthrough games, but right now my sole focus is really to get these guys on the court and get a better feel for them. Everyday it's got to be harder, smarter, together."

On the USF coaching staff:
"I will talk to the Assistants here. I have a few people in mind, but I've only really talked in depth to one person. At the end of the day I've got to figure out what is best for the University of San Francisco and put together the best staff possible. I'm going to take my time and evaluate who will be the best fit, either from the Bay Area or nationally."

On recruiting in the Bay Area:
"The Bay Area will be a priority for recruiting. What I look for in recruiting are pass-handle-shoot kids. Kids that understand and have a good feel for the game. It takes me five minutes to figure out if a kid can run and jump high, that's easy. The biggest thing for me is going to be character. Character is what will help a team when they're down three with two minutes to go. I like to see how kids handle getting beat, how they interact with their coach, how they act off the court. I'm looking for the total package. At USF we shouldn't settle for anything less."

A complete audio broadcast of the press conference is available by copying and pasting the following link in your browser: http://sports.yahoo.com/top/collegebroadcast/teams/saf and then clicking on the Press conference "listen" link at the end of the men's basketball schedule.