ROCHESTER, NY (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Men's Basketball has announced the promotion of Dennis Walker to Associate Head Coach following five seasons as a member of the Golden Flyers' coaching staff.

Walker joined the Nazareth coaching staff for the 2021-22 season and was elevated to a full-time assistant coach prior to the 2023-24 season. He enters his sixth season with the program and has helped guide the Golden Flyers to a 99-37 record over the past five seasons. Nazareth has appeared in the Empire 8 Championship in each of Walker's five seasons with the program, including three consecutive championship-game appearances from 2021-22 through 2023-24.

"We are fortunate to have an outstanding assistant coaching staff with Dennis Walker, Derrick Cahill, Jake Burgio and Patrick Broderick all making huge contributions to our program. Dennis continues to demonstrate that he is fully committed to providing our student-athletes with extremely high support while demanding a very high standard. He is extremely valuable in all areas of our program and University and has earned the position of Associate Head Coach," said Head Coach Kevin Broderick.

During Walker's first season with Nazareth, the Golden Flyers captured the Empire 8 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, where they won their first-round game over Westfield State. Nazareth has continued to establish itself as one of the top programs in the Empire 8 during Walker's tenure, including the 2024-25 season when Jaylen Savage was selected as an NABC All-American.

Walker's responsibilities at Nazareth have included on-court coaching, recruiting and scouting, and game preparation.

A Rochester native, Walker brings more than three decades of experience in the Rochester-area basketball community to the position. He played high school basketball at Irondequoit High School, where he was a Monroe County League all-star, before continuing his playing career at Genesee Community College. Walker served as team captain at Genesee, where he played for local coaching legend Bill Van Gundy.

Walker also has extensive experience developing players at the youth level. In 2012, he founded and coached the Monroe County All-Stars AAU program, which helped several players earn college basketball scholarships. The program has since evolved into a basketball training program serving players at all levels.

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