Over 500 victories and counting: UofL’s Walz has the firepower for another deep NCAA run

By RUSS BROWN • Photos Provided By Louisville Athletics 

Louisville women’s basketball coach Jeff Walz recently reached a milestone with his 500th career victory, and it is looking as if he is going to add to that total considerably by the time the current season ends in March or early April at the Final Four. 

As the calendar flipped to February for the last month of the regular season, the Cardinals were breezing along with an 11-game winning streak, having compiled a 19-3 record. They had won 14 of their previous 15 games and were ranked seventh in the country. 

In other words, exactly the type of success UofL fans have come to expect from teams coached by the 54-year-old Walz, who is in his 19th season. 

With his win total of 505, four Final Fours, and two appearances in the national championship game, he is already in an elite group. Among active coaches only UConn’s Geno Auriemma, South Carolina’s Dawn Staley and LSU’s Kim Mulkey have more Final Four trips than Walz. Furthermore, among active coaches only Auriemma (18 seasons) and Mulkey (17) reached 500 wins faster than Walz. 

Under his direction, UofL has posted 15 consecutive 20-win seasons while averaging over 26 victories per year. His 500th came in an 85-60 rout of Virginia Tech on Jan. 4 at the KFC Yum! Center and prompted a shower of confetti along with memories. 

“One thing I’ll never forget Tom told me during my interview process,” Walz said, referring to former athletics director Tom Jurich. “He goes, ‘I don’t just want a good team every four or five years. I want a good program.’ And I think we’ve done that.” 

“It’s special for sure,” he added of his 500th. “I mean, it’s been 19 years, and I’ve been very blessed to have a wonderful staff throughout the years to help. It’s all about getting players that are willing to buy in and want to be a part of something. And we’ve been very, very fortunate and blessed to get players that love the University of Louisville and give us everything they have. 

“We’re not always the most talented team when we step out on the floor, but we have kids that believe in what we’re doing and believe in us as coaches, and that’s what makes it as much fun as it is. Sure, it goes down as 500 wins for me, but there are a lot of players that have scored a lot of baskets to make this possible.” 

As if there was any doubt, Walz assured Card Nation that he isn’t going anywhere, although he would be a coveted hire for virtually any program in the country. 

“It’s going to be where I retire from,” he said. “I’m not looking for another job, I have no aspirations or interest in that. I love every second that I’ve been here. It’s home. It’s been an unbelievable journey, an unbelievable experience.” 

And his current team seems to have the ingredients to add to that experience. Consider: 

The Cards have been dominant at both ends of the court through their last 14 games, averaging 85.9 points while limiting opponents to 58.6 for a winning margin of plus-29.5. During that span, they have held teams under 60 points 10 times and 50 or less on six occasions. At the same time, they have shot 46.8% overall, 35.4% from 3-point range, and have outrebounded their foes by 14 per outing. 

You want depth? Louisville has that too, with a bench that averages 36 points per game, second nationally, and has outscored victims on its own three times. 

In the hot stretch, seven different players have led the team in scoring, six different players have been the leading rebounder, and six have led in assists. Ten players are logging 15 minutes or more per game, none more than 28. 

Sophomore guard Tajianna Roberts leads the team in scoring at 12.7 ppg, but has plenty of help, with six teammates contributing between 7.2 and 10.7 ppg. Although senior forward Laura Ziegler is the top rebounder, five others are averaging nearly five or better. Imari Berry, another soph, is the mainstay among the reserves. She has started only two games, but is averaging 10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg and shooting a team-best 40.0% from distance. She scored a career-high 33 points with 12 rebounds and three steals in an 88-80 overtime win at NC State on Jan. 18 as UofL’s subs outscored the Wolfpack reserves 57-5. 

“Nobody can stop us,” Berry said. “All players out there can shoot the ball, drive, shoot layups, knock down free throws, so it’s kind of hard to guard us.” 

“I think we have a really, really, really good basketball team, no question about it,” Walz said. “We’ve seven or eight that you have to guard,” Walz said. “There’s really nobody (an opposing coach) can say, ‘we’re not going to guard her, we’ll leave her open.’ So I think that’s our strong point.” 

Walz also likes his club’s versatility. 

“We can play fast if needed,” he said. “We can set it up and execute in the half court, we can press at times. We have multiple ball handlers. It’s fun for me, because I’m getting a chance to coach in terms of mixing things up at a timeout or gambling some, because this group is bought into what we’re trying to do. We’re pretty unselfish. Our kids are embracing the fact that it’s going to be somebody different every night. I like the way we’re playing and competing.” 

Louisville and Duke are the only undefeated teams remaining in the ACC and could be headed for a showdown on Feb. 5 at the Yum Center. After that, the schedule favors the Cards, who will play four of their last six games at home. Then comes the ACC Tournament in Duluth, Ga. March 4-8 and the NCAA Tournament March 20 through the Final Four April 3-5. UofL is currently projected as a No. 2 seed, but a No. 1 is well within reach. 

Reflecting on his time at Louisville, Walz said, “I’m glad that we’ve taken the time throughout the 19 years to enjoy the moments we’ve had. If you don’t take the time to enjoy the good times, then all you’re going to live with is the bad times.” 

So far, this season has been loaded with good times, and more could be on the way.