OHECC 2016

Motivational Speaker

Gary Waters Pic


 


GARY WATERS
Head Basketball Coach – Cleveland State University


 

 

Gary Waters is in his 10th season as the head basketball coach at Cleveland State University, taking over the program on April 6, 2006. During his time at CSU, Waters has built the Vikings into one of the top mid-major programs in the country and his accomplishments have been nothing short of extraordinary…

  • Back-to-back 20-win seasons (2007-08, 2008-09) for the first time since 1986-88, including 26 wins in 2008-09, the third highest in total in program history.
  • Five 20-win seasons, including 27 wins in 2010-11, tied for the second most in CSU history.
  • Six post-season appearances; an NIT invitation in 2008, the school’s second NCAA bid in 2009, an NIT appearance in 2011 when CSU advanced to the second round, an NIT bid in 2012 and a CBI berths in 2014 and 2015 when CSU advanced to the second round.
  • The first two trips to the Horizon League Championship game in school history, including the Horizon League title and NCAA bid in 2009.
  •  An 84-69 victory over No. 4 seed and 12th-ranked Wake Forest in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament.
  • The 2011 Horizon League regular season title, a first in program history.
  • Five wins against nationally-ranked opponents, including three victories in 2008-09. (CSU was just 1-24 against ranked teams before Waters arrived at CSU).
  • A 71-58 win at No. 7 Vanderbilt in the 2011-12 season opener, the highest ranked opponent CSU has ever defeated.
  • Two NBA players, including 2011 first round pick, Norris Cole, who has won two NBA Championship teams with the Miami Heat.
  • All 35 seniors who have been in the program have graduated with their degree.
  • A 104-35 (.748) record in the Wolstein Center, including a building record 17 wins in 2010-11        

Waters owns a 20-year head coaching record of 353-276 (as of Jan. 27), including a 183-141 (as of Jan. 27) mark in 10 seasons at CSU, making him the winningest coach in program history.

His .574 winning percentage at CSU is second all-time in program history.

The nation has taken note of not only what Waters has accomplished, but more importantly, the manner that he has done it, with recognitions in national awards.

At the conclusion of the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, Waters was named a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, which is presented annually to the top minority coach in Division I men’s basketball.

At the end of the 2009-10 season, Waters was presented with the John Lotz “Barnabas” Award by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, an award which is presented annually to honor a basketball coach who best exhibits commitment to Christ, integrity, encouragement to others and lives a balanced life.

In the spring of 2015, Waters received the Master Coach Award from the Nations of Coaches, presented to a coach who is outstanding for his commitment to coach like the Master Coach.

Waters has also been inducted into two different Hall of Fames. He was a 2002 inductee into the Ferris State Athletic Hall of Fame and a 2006 member of the Kent State Varsity “K” Hall of Fame.