Bucky Waters
Encyclopedia
Raymond Chevalier "Bucky" Waters (born December 17, 1935) is a current basketball broadcaster with ESPN
and MSG Network
and a retired NCAA basketball head coach. He served as head coach for the West Virginia University
men's basketball team from 1965–69 and was head coach for the Duke University
men's team from 1969-1973. His overall head coaching record is 133-96 and includes four postseason appearances.
Coach Everett Case
at North Carolina State University
. Only N. C. State's National Championship teams of 1974 and 1983 surpassed the Wolfpack’s Nationally 2nd ranked team of the Waters’ era.
As a coach, Waters spent four years at West Virginia University
and ten years at Duke University producing winning records and postseason tournament teams at both universities. Waters is one of only four individuals in ACC
history to be on ACC basketball championship teams at two different universities—first as a player at N. C. State (1956), then later as an assistant coach at Duke University
(1960, 1963, 1964). He is also one of only six ACC players to become an ACC head basketball coach.
In the eighteen years of college basketball as player and coach Waters participated in 5 conference Championships, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 3 National Invitation Tournaments, and 2 Final Fours. His fourteen years of experience as both player and coach in the ACC found him in the top half of his conference every year. As head coach at WVU, Waters maintained a winning record against his former school: His Mountaineers won 2 of 3 over the Blue Devils, including a 1966 victory over the #1, undefeated Blue Devils—a Duke team that would later go on to the Final Four.
Note: * Southern Conference Champions
, USA, ESPN, Jefferson/Raycom, Madison Square Garden
, and Fox Sports. His 30 years of experience includes professional golf with the PGA
, professional baseball with the Durham Bulls
, and anchor announcing duties for NBC in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His most frequent and well known broadcasting, however, has been associated with college basketball
.
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and MSG Network
MSG Network
The MSG Network, now shortened to simply MSG, is a regional cable television and radio network serving the Mid-Atlantic United States. It is focused on New York City sports teams...
and a retired NCAA basketball head coach. He served as head coach for the West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
men's basketball team from 1965–69 and was head coach for the Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
men's team from 1969-1973. His overall head coaching record is 133-96 and includes four postseason appearances.
Collegiate basketball
As a player, Waters played under Hall of FameHall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
Coach Everett Case
Everett Case
Everett N. Case , nicknamed "Gray Fox", was a basketball coach most notable for his tenure at North Carolina State University, from 1946 to 1964....
at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. Only N. C. State's National Championship teams of 1974 and 1983 surpassed the Wolfpack’s Nationally 2nd ranked team of the Waters’ era.
As a coach, Waters spent four years at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and ten years at Duke University producing winning records and postseason tournament teams at both universities. Waters is one of only four individuals in ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
history to be on ACC basketball championship teams at two different universities—first as a player at N. C. State (1956), then later as an assistant coach at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
(1960, 1963, 1964). He is also one of only six ACC players to become an ACC head basketball coach.
In the eighteen years of college basketball as player and coach Waters participated in 5 conference Championships, 5 NCAA Tournaments, 3 National Invitation Tournaments, and 2 Final Fours. His fourteen years of experience as both player and coach in the ACC found him in the top half of his conference every year. As head coach at WVU, Waters maintained a winning record against his former school: His Mountaineers won 2 of 3 over the Blue Devils, including a 1966 victory over the #1, undefeated Blue Devils—a Duke team that would later go on to the Final Four.
Coaching record
| Season | School | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965-66 | West Virginia University | 19-9 | |
| 1966-67 | West Virginia University | 19-9* | NCAA Tournament |
| 1967-68 | West Virginia University | 19-9 | NIT |
| 1968-69 | West Virginia University | 13-14 | |
| 1969-70 | Duke University | 17-9 | NIT |
| 1970-71 | Duke University | 20-10 | NIT |
| 1971-72 | Duke University | 14-12 | |
| 1972-73 | Duke University | 12-14 |
Note: * Southern Conference Champions
- Overall Record: 133-96
- Record at West Virginia: 70-41
- Record at Duke: 63-45
Broadcast experience
Waters broadcasting experience includes coverage with NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
, USA, ESPN, Jefferson/Raycom, Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, and Fox Sports. His 30 years of experience includes professional golf with the PGA
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, professional baseball with the Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, and anchor announcing duties for NBC in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His most frequent and well known broadcasting, however, has been associated with college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
.
Personal life
Waters married Dorothea Walter on September 1, 1956. They have three children (Michael, Terry, and Linda) and twelve grandchildren.Awards
- 1967 Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
- Recipient of NCSU Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001, succeeding former governor, Jim Hunt.
- Received honorary Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Duke University Medical School alumni.
- Inducted into South Jersey Sports Hall of Fame.
- Received Lou GehrigLou GehrigHenry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
/Catfish HunterCatfish HunterJames Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
Humanitarian Award in March 2005. - Retired after 41 years at Duke University, having reached title of Vice Chancellor for Alumni and Development at Duke Medical Center, and served as an officer of Duke University in that position.