After nine seasons as the head men’s basketball coach at A&M-Commerce and 30 seasons as a collegiate head coach, Paul Peak announced his retirement as the University’s basketball coach on May 5.

At the same time, President Dr. Keith D. McFarland appointed Sam Walker to replace Peak as head men’s basketball coach.

Peak, 58, remains the A&M-Commerce Athletic Director and becomes the head golf coach for the Lions.

"I love basketball," said Peak. "However, there are other factors involved in the operation of the athletic program which are of more importance to the University and at this time my motivation has been directed toward those issues."

Peak collected his 500th career victory last Nov. 26, when his Lions defeated Seattle Pacific 86-79 in the Western Washington University/Chuck Randall Classic in Bellingham, Wash.

He has posted a 510-365 record (.583) over his 30-year career as a head coach at Southern California College (now Vanguard University), Southwestern University (Texas) in Georgetown and A&M-Commerce. In the last nine years with the Lions, Peak posted a 134-118 record (532) and a record of 113-50 (.693) over the last six seasons.

Peak led the Lions to three consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances, including a berth in the 1997 Elite Eight. His Lions won the Lone Star Conference Championship in 1996 and won South Divisional titles in 1997 and 1998. He was honored as the Lone Star Conference’s Coach of the Year in 1996.

"I’ve been very proud of Coach Peak’s accomplishments over the last few years," glowed President McFarland. "He’s made the University proud and I just wanted him to be sure that stepping down is what he wanted to do."

Teams under Peak won 19 or more games 13 times, including four of the last five seasons at A&M-Commerce. The 1999-2000 team finished 12-14 after suffering several key injuries, including the loss of All-America center Jermaine Thomas for the final three weeks of the season. Since 1994, the Lions have won more games than any other LSC team.

Peak was third in years of service (nine) and victories (134) among Lion coaches, behind Jim Gudger (14 years, 203 wins) and Norman Pilgrim (11 years, 161 wins). He is also fifth in winning percentage (.532) among coaches with five or more years of service to the Lions.

He was ninth among active NCAA Division II coaches in number of victories (510) at the end of this season. He also had the rare distinction of coaching in five different decades (1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000).

Peak was named the A&M-Commerce Athletic Director in July, 1999, succeeding Dr. Margo Harbison who retired.

Sam Walker, 31, becomes the 20th head men’s basketball coach at A&M-Commerce. He has spent the last eight years as an assistant at A&M-Commerce and was promoted to Associate Head Coach for the 1999-2000 season.

Walker has been the Lions’ recruiting coordinator for several years in addition to his extensive floor and practice coaching duties. Additionally, he has served as the director for the annual Lions’ Summer Basketball Camp.

"Sam is an excellent coach," stated Peak. "We’ve come close to losing him a couple of times, but he’s a Lion through and through. He’ll do a great job for us."

"I’ve known Sam for a number of years," Dr. McFarland began, "He not only knows basketball very well, he is a person of highest character. And that’s of utmost importance to me."

Dr. McFarland added, "I look forward to having Sam coach this team, he understands it and there’s no doubt in my mind that the tradition of success that we’ve had in recent years will continues for many more years."

A 1987 graduate of McKinney High School, Walker earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health from Sam Houston State University in 1991 and added his master’s in physical education and health from A&M-Commerce in 1993.

Prior to joining the Lions, Walker served as an assistant coach at Brookhaven Community College in 1991-92. He also served as a student assistant at Navarro Junior College from 1987-89 and Sam Houston State in 1989-90.

As a player at McKinney High, Walker was the team MVP as a senior and was named all-district three times. He was the district’s sophomore of the year and led MHS in assists all three seasons.

Walker is married to the former Allison Minah and has one son, Teddy.

Peak's Career Record