Walter Pitts joined the Hoya coaching staff in June of 2022. He came to the Hilltop from the University of Virginia, and has more than 14 years of experience as a coach.
In three seasons at Virginia, Pitts helped develop the game of Jocelyn Willoughby who would become the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. His time at UVA saw challenges as the Cavaliers were forced to end the 2020-21 season early due to COVID-19.
Prior to UVA, Pitts spent the previous season as a women’s basketball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Jackson State University. 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 being a member of the UNC Greensboro women’s basketball coaching staff, 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 the University of Alabama and built his athletic resume by receiving the Guy Lee Turner Defensive Award twice. He helped the Crimson Tide Basketball Team become major contenders by competing in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in 1992, and by making 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 in 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.
