First annual Coach “Walk” Classic to tip off in St. George Dec. 18-20

ST. GEORGE — Pine View High School boys basketball, Dixie State University and The Coach Darin Walker Foundation are pleased to announce the First Annual Coach Darin Walker Memorial Holiday Classic basketball tournament, the ‘Coach “Walk” Classic.’ Formerly known as the Red Rock Rumble, the Coach “Walk” Classic has become a holiday tournament favorite for high school boys basketball teams from all over Utah.

Snow Canyon G Jacob Frei drives against Pine View's Chaz Peterson, Snow Canyon vs. Pine View, Boys Basketball, St. George, Utah, Dec. 10, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Pine View and Snow Canyon will participate in the Coach Walk Classic. File photo from Snow Canyon vs. Pine View, Boys Basketball, St. George, Utah, Dec. 10, 2014 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“We want to honor the life of my good friend and mentor, Coach Walk, and his lifelong commitment to charitable giving, volunteerism and the best sporting competition,” said Darrell Larsen, the tournament’s executive director and head coach of the Pine View High School boys basketball team.

The tournament is Dec. 18-20 on the campus of Dixie State University and at area high schools. This year’s tournament will feature 11 of the top high school boys basketball programs from around the state of Utah. Teams participating in this year’s event include: Viewmont, Woods Cross, Mountain View, Maple Mountain, Pine View, Desert Hills, Dixie, Snow Canyon, Hurricane, Manti and North Sevier.

There will be 15 varsity games played over the three days. A total of 46 games will be played as part of the tournament with the remaining games being junior varsity, sophomore and freshman competitions.

“We want the tournament to continue to be the event of the season for the best high school teams in the surrounding states.” Larsen said. “We are equally excited to add the ability for financial donations, donations in-kind and donations of volunteer time to be made to the Coach Walk Foundation.”

The community, spectators, participating teams and even the officials, who are all donating at least one game of their time, can make donations to the Coach Darin Walker Foundation. Information on where financial donations can be made will be forthcoming. The Foundation will then be distributing the donations for scholarships and equipment to those boys and schools who have needs, just as Coach Walk has quietly done for years.

Coach Walk

walkerCoach Darin Walker (1962-2014), coached within the Pine View area for over 20 years and was part of the Pine View basketball and baseball programs for many of them. A die-hard Atlanta Braves fan, he was known as the relationship coach who took personal interest in the boys and the other coaches. He loved the boys and coaches and made friendships that have lasted longer than the scores of the games can be remembered. This is something he took pride in. He didn’t want anything to limit anyone’s chance to become their best, and if there was a way he could help someone out or help them become better he did it. It didn’t matter what, if he knew that something he could do would benefit a boy or the program he quietly made it happen.

Coach Walk, along with his father-in-law, George Staheli, started Staheli Catering over 25 years ago. He spent his life running Staheli Catering and recently with his wife, Lesli (Staheli) Walker, started Heritage Catering. They combined the two businesses, and Coach Walk continued to actively lead the company up until the time of his death. Heritage Catering will continue to support the tournament by providing the catering for the tournament coaches’ room, which has become a favorite among the coaches who have previously participated in the tournament.

Schedule of games: Coach Walk Classic 2014 (FINAL)

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @oldschoolag

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2014, all rights reserved.

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1 Comment

  • NM December 16, 2014 at 11:23 am

    So glad that this tournament is honoring the legacy that Darin (Coach Walk) left to all who knew and loved him! He was a wonderful example of service, sacrifice and love.

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