Al Walker, the Cornell University head coach since 1993, will assume the posts vacated by Don Doucette on Aug. 1, Chaminade University president Sue Wesselkamper announced at a press conference today.
The school's fifth AD and fifth basketball coach, Walker was chosen last night from a final field of three, according to Karon Jahn, the acting AD who headed the selection committee.
The other candidates were former Furman University head coach Butch Estes and Santa Clara assistant coach Larry Hauser.
The original field of candidates was 130 strong and included the school's most successful former head coach, Merv Lopes.
Doucette resigned May 10 after three years with the Silverswords to accept the head coaching job at Central Missouri State. He was 22-51 overall at Chaminade, but 12-14 in 1994-95 when he was named Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year.
In restructuring the Chaminade athletic department, Doucette had it operating under budget for the first time in the school's history.
"Don set the baseline criteria for this job," said Jahn, who said she had the highest respect for Doucette's coaching ability. "The same intensity and drive are there in Al. He's just a little quieter in his style."
Walker, 37, a Queens, N.Y., native, will receive a salary in the $50,000 range. He compiled a 27-51 record at Cornell.
From 1988 to 1993, he was head coach at Colorado College and guided the Division III team to its first postseason appearance in 31 years (1991-92).
He was an assistant at Cornell from 1986-88, an assistant at East Carolina from 1984-86, and an assistant at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill under current University of Kansas head coach Roy Williams from 1983-84.
Walker was graduated magna cum laude with a BS in physical education from Brockport State College in New York. He secured his masters in sports psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill.
He served on the sports science faculty of every school that has employed him as a coach.
"Al Walker not only brings a record of coaching success to Chaminade, but he will be an exceptional asset in implementing Chaminade's mission of education," said Wesselkamper. "I'm delighted he will be joining us."
Walker played basketball at Brockport, where he earned honorable mention on the Small College All-American team. He played one year of pro basketball in Israel in 1982.
Walker will oversee eight NCAA Division II teams: men's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, men's water polo, women's softball, and men's and women's tennis.
He is married to the former Chris Campbell and has two small daughters.