Louisville girls’s basketball coach installs gymnasium slide

Louisville girls’s basketball coach Jeff Walz may need turned 51 on Thursday, however he positively nonetheless has some child in him. Witness the brand new addition to the Cardinals’ follow facility on the Planet Health Kueber Middle: a slide from the second-floor coaches’ workplaces to the gymnasium flooring.

Jody Demling of Cardinal Authority tweeted a photograph of the slide as a part of Louisville’s media day protection Thursday.

https://twitter.com/jdemling/status/1585695560299839497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

“It has been enjoyable, and gamers have loved it,” Walz advised ESPN. “We’ve had some humorous sights as individuals have come flying down the slide. We put some padding on the backside. If you have not practiced sticking your dismount, you have got one thing comfortable to land on.”

Walz obtained the concept for the slide about 5 years in the past, however the idea spent quite a lot of time in growth. An important factor, he mentioned, was ensuring it complied with all Occupational Security and Well being Administration laws, which is why it’s partially enclosed.

“We had a neighborhood man on the town who does quite a lot of fascinating designs and ideas,” Walz mentioned. “He is actually inventive, and he mentioned, ‘I could make it occur.’ So he drew it up for us.”

Then a donor helped with the financing for development. Walz mentioned he hoped it could entice Cardinals gamers to return as much as go to the coaches extra usually, which has been the case. It is also a cool factor to point out off in recruiting.

The slide would not intrude in any means with follow actions, Walz mentioned, which was a part of the protection requirements. It is simply there for the enjoyment of all who like slides, which incorporates Walz and his two youngest daughters, ages 9 and seven. Requested if his spouse, Lauren, additionally likes the slide, Walz laughed and mentioned, “No, she mentioned she just isn’t doing that.”

Metaphorically, although, “slide” is the final phrase you’ll hyperlink to the Cardinals’ program. Coming into his sixteenth season, Walz is 414-113 and has led Louisville to 4 appearances within the girls’s Closing 4, together with final season when the group completed 29-5. Walz had his contract prolonged by means of 2028-29 in March.

Regardless of dropping three starters to commencement, together with No. 4 WNBA draft decide Emily Engstler, the Cardinals are ranked No. 7 within the preseason Related Press ballot and picked to complete first within the ACC. That’s because of the return of starters Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran, and reloading with transfers and recruits.