Walter Pitts, a 15-year coaching veteran, joins the UCF women’s basketball program as assistant coach and director of player development, enters his first season with the Knights in the 2023-24.
“We’re excited to have Walter join our staff,” said Messer. “Coach Pitts has a tremendous amount of coaching experience from the Big East, ACC, NBA G-League and more. We’re ready to get to work!”
Pitts comes to Orlando after spending last season as a women’s basketball assistant coach at Georgetown. During the 2022-23 season, Pitts helped the Hoyas improve their win total from the previous season and the squad made it to the second round of the Big East Tournament. During the summer, he helped lead the Hong Kong Bulls to the NBL playoffs for the first year in franchise history.
Preceding Georgetown, Pitts spent three seasons at Virginia where he helped develop Jocelyn Willoughby, who was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft.
Prior to UVA, Pitts spent the previous season as a women’s basketball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Jackson State. During his tenure with the Tigers, he helped develop two All-SWAC players and the SWAC Newcomer of the Year, as well as recruiting the first player in 20 years from an HBCU to be selected in the WNBA Draft in Ameshya Williams-Holliday.
Pitts spent the 2015-16 season as the lead assistant coach for the Texas Legends in the NBA Development League, the minor league affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks, working with a roster of NBA prospects that included D-League All-Star game selections Brandon Ashley and Michael Eric.
Before going to the Legends, Pitts spent four years on the men’s basketball coaching staff at Texas Southern. In 2014, he helped guide the Tigers to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship, earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in program history.
Pitts’ coaching career also includes a stint with UNC Greensboro women’s basketball, working with both the men’s and women’s programs at Wiley College and working with two teams in the China Basketball Association.
The Alabama native played professional basketball in South America. He competed for four years and secured a title in the South American League.
Pitts played basketball at Alabama and built his athletic resume by receiving the Guy Lee Turner Defensive Award twice. He helped the Crimson Tide basketball team to a selection in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1992, and a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearance in 1993. Prior to his time at Alabama, he attended Tyler Junior College in Texas. During his tenure at TJC, he was named to the all-conference team for two consecutive years.
While attending Loachapoka High School, Pitts was awarded the State of Alabama Most Valuable Player for three consecutive years (1988-1990) and led his team to back-to-back state titles.
Pitts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in human environmental science from Alabama in 2008. He is the proud father of two children and a grandfather of four.