DeAndre Walker has been named Varsity Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at The Bolles School. Walker brings extensive experience as a coach at the college level and most recently served as head coach at his alma mater Firestone High School in Akron, Ohio, in 2021-22 where coached two All Akron City Series honorees.

Prior to coaching at Firestone, Walker served on the men’s basketball staff at the University of Tennessee at Martin for seven seasons. Walker served an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2016-2021, helping the Skyhawks to five postseason victories, three consecutive 20+ win seasons for the first time in program history, the first two OVC West division championships in school history and the first two OVC Tournament championship games in program history. He joined UT-Martin in 2014 as Director of Basketball Operations/Player Development, coordinating team travel, camps, strength training and skill development. In this role, he also helped improve the team’s Academic Progress Rate and graduation rate. 

Walker served as head coach of the Columbus State Community College men’s basketball team in Columbus, Ohio, in 2013-14 where he managed all aspects of the program including community service involvement and guided one of his players to All-Conference honors. He served as an assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University in 2012-13. Walker began his coaching career as a student assistant coach at his college alma mater Fairmont State University, assistant in recruiting and player skill development. He was also director of the Hidden Gems AAU Basketball program and served as an assistant coach with the King James AAU program.

Walker’s playing career included two years of professional basketball in the International Basketball League, Continental Basketball Association and Long Beach Summer Pro-Am League. He was a two-year letterwinner and team captain for the Fairmont State University men’s basketball team in West Virginia, helping the Falcons to a 37-21 record in his two seasons. Walker began his college playing career at Columbus State Community College, helping the Cougars to a 20-9 record and a 9-5 mark in the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference record during his freshman season.

Walker earned an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Fairmont State. He currently serves as an area business manager with Zoetis Animal Health.

“DeAndre knows how to successfully build, manage and maintain a successful basketball program,” said Bolles Athletic Director Matt Morris. “More importantly, he understands the important balance of academic success and life skills for student-athletes.”