Gary Waters
The easier question to ask regarding Ferris State alumnus, Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, former Bulldogs assistant coach and Rutgers head coach Gary Waters is, “What are you not doing in retirement?”
Waters, who played for Ferris State’s legendary Jim Wink, became an assistant coach for the Bulldogs’ program in the mid-1970s before amassing more than 350 NCAA Division I victories as a head coach at Kent State University, Rutgers University and Cleveland State University.
The 2003 Ferris Athletics Hall of Fame inductee left the coaching ranks in 2017 but was determined to remain active.
“After asking myself, ‘What am I going to do in retirement?’ I found the answer coming quickly. I wanted to write,” Waters said. “I got with a publishing firm and chose to produce my autobiography. The editors and publisher loved my writing but said the progress and process were wrong. I was convinced to develop other content based on my experiences. I had also relocated from the Cleveland area to Florida at that time.”
Waters’ second book, “Coaching Millennials from a Character Perspective,” a follow-up to his 2010 book, “Ten Principles of a Character Coach,” is due for release in late 2023 or early 2024.
“I discuss the issues millennials face, knowing that those born in the early 1980s and on to the early 2000s are also connected,” Waters said. “I feel this will be the first book with sports as an emphasis that addresses offering leadership and the concept of character to these athletes.”
Waters’ philosophic elements in “Coaching Millennials” consider the athlete’s parenting, their having true respect and establishing a culture of accountability within a team.
“Without giving the entire work away, I will say that millennials struggle to find respect for themselves and others, so the goal is to help them feel confident in giving that kind of support to each other,” Waters said. “We present the core values of character, so that coaches and their athletes can avoid the pitfalls of pursuing their goals without that most important construct.”
In Fall 2020, Morgan James Publishing released “Ten Principles of a Character Coach.” Waters’ first book focused on creating a foundation of integrity, honesty, and moral values for athletic leadership.
“Whether it is a major college basketball program or a coach trying to lead high schoolers to victories and positive life experiences, the young people need to understand the importance of focusing on character and values,” Waters said. “None of it rings true if their leaders are not equally grounded and accountable to the team. Many circumstances that arose at Cleveland State, my longest D-I coaching experience, are incorporated in that book.”
Before releasing “Ten Principles,” Waters became a commissioner in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s College Basketball Academy.
“I was the Midwest commissioner for the 2019 event in Champaign at the University of Illinois,” Waters said. “We were able to return to hosting our 2023 Academy at the Memphis Sports and Events Center. It was an outstanding event, helping 2,000 athletes better understand the collegiate athletic process.”
With the message of character firmly planted in his activities, Waters watched the major stories of the last several years and felt he could contribute his voice to positive change in various communities.
“Society was facing many problems, and I wanted to help define the situation by acknowledging the prominence and importance of character,” Waters said. “I have spoken to police departments in Tampa and other Florida towns, churches, religious workshops, and conferences beyond offering my voice in the athletic arena. I have had workshops at two NCAA Final Four conferences and did a book signing for ‘Ten Principles,’ in collaboration with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at this year’s Final Four in Houston.”
Another facet of Waters’ busy schedule is hosting “Guardians of the Game,” a podcast sponsored by the NCAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
“Beyond that, I am a committee member for the selection of teams participating in the National Invitation Tournament, the oldest postseason basketball competition in the country,” Waters said. “I am working hard, making for a most active retirement, which I believe has gone very well.”
Waters will be honored as a Distinguished Alumnus at the 2023 Fall Reunion on Friday, Sept. 29, in the David L. Eisler Center ballrooms.