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Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Vince Walden joined the Liberty men’s basketball staff before the start of the 2012-13 season, in what became a memorable year for the Flames. For the past two years under Head Coach Dale Layer, Walden has worked primarily with Liberty’s guards while also handling various scouting assignments and recruiting responsibilities.
In 2013, the Virginia native was instrumental in helping the Flames turn things around en route to capturing the program’s third Big South Championship while punching a ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Liberty’s appearance in the Big Dance marked its third in program history and its first since 2004.
Walden came to Liberty from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., where he served as head coach and recruiting coordinator of the IMG national team. IMG is an internationally known sports academy, which conducts high-level training in basketball, tennis, golf, and soccer. A graduate of Longwood University in 2001, Walden was a four-year letter-winner in basketball and a three-year captain for the Lancers.
"Being from Virginia and spending much of his professional life in North Carolina and Florida, Vince fits very well with the recruiting footprint of Liberty basketball," Layer said. "His experience at IMG Academy has been very valuable to him in developing recruiting contacts and honing his individual workout skills to a very high level."
"As a Virginia native I’m aware of the longstanding rich tradition, academic excellence, and Christian philosophy upon which the university was founded," Walden noted. "However, I have been blown away by the university’s vision and commitment to athletics."
Walden added, "I’m thankful to Coach Layer for extending to me this opportunity to work with an outstanding staff as well as talented players. In my experience dealing with coaches across the country, I believe Coach Layer is one of the best coaches in college basketball as well as one of the finest men I have known. He’s tough, competitive, and has a gift for developing great people and players. My family and I are thrilled and honored to be a part of the Liberty University family."
Walden resides in Lynchburg with his wife, LaKeesha, and chrildren, Zachary, Vinson Jr., and newborn Kari Grace.
The Walden File
Year at Liberty: Third
High School: Lakeland High School
College: Longwood (2001)
Education: Bachelors’ degree in social work from Longwood University
Coaching Experience:
Present (Third year) – Liberty – Assistant Coach
2006-2012 (Six years) – IMG Academy – National Team Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
2003-04 (Two years) – AAU Charlotte Royals – Coach
2002-03 (Two Years) – AAU Charlotte Blazers – Coach
2001-2009 (Eight Years) – Five-Star Basketball Camp – Head Coach
Hometown: Suffolk, Va.
Wife: LaKeesha
Children: Vinson, Jr. (5) and Zachary (4)
