EVANSVILLE, Ind. – When Walter McCarty became the head coach at the University of Evansville, he knew that the position was about much more than coaching the game that he loves. 
 
Being the head coach of the Purple Aces provides him with an avenue to have a great impact on the community that he grew up in.  Just four months after taking the position, one of his goals came to fruition with the announcement of the Walter McCarty Leadership Academy powered by Old National Bank. 
 
"The goal of the academy is to help kids who are underserved in this community.  To give them opportunities to grow as a person, learn life and social skills and to teach them that they can be whatever they want to be," he explained.  "We want to give them the tools to help them into that transition."
 
"I am so excited about the formation of the academy, we have a lot of fun and exciting things planned that we think will help these kids be successful down the road.  They may not have these types of opportunities elsewhere, so we just want to do our job, support the community and give the young people a chance to be successful."
 
One of the most exciting aspects of the academy is that it will provide seats for 50 children along with a family member to every home UE men's and women's basketball game.  While that is an important part, it is about much more. 
 
"It will be an honor to welcome these kids and their family to our home games," McCarty said.  "We also want to mentor them, whether it is coming to practice, coming to campus and sitting in a classroom.  We may have a class taught by myself or one of my assistants about life skills – how to present themselves and build their brand or show them how to create a resume.  Things they need to know as they grow older and what we think is important."
 
A native of Evansville, McCarty understands the work that needs to be done and embraces the opportunity.  He is also thankful for a partner like Old National Bank.
 
"Being from this area, I think there is a lot of work that needs to be done with our young people.  I have the platform now to be able to help these people.  Being in the position that I am in and growing up in this community, I think I have a responsibility to do that," he explained.  "When I grew up in Evansville, the leaders were the pastors of the church.  They are still the leaders of the community, but we now have the opportunity to take it to another level.  Having an African-American coach at the university, but also having the CEO of Old National Bank step in and do her part means a lot.  I think we owe it to ourselves and to our community if we can give back and support these kids."
 
Old National Bank has a long history in Evansville and McCarty is extremely proud to team up with them to establish the academy.  He also went into detail with how Old National had an impact on his life at a younger age.
 
"I have known people from Old National Bank all my life.  They are really tapped into our community.  Bob Jones, who is the CEO of Old National Bank, has been a good friend and has been very instrumental," McCarty continued.  "Old National Region CEO Sara Miller has also done so much to help my vision come to life.  They are a bank of the community and really care about it.  It is a great partnership that we were able to form and I look forward to getting started."
 
"Jim Reisinger was with ONB when I grew up; I went to school with one of his kids and we are still good friends today," McCarty said.  "I had the opportunity to see how he was able to care for his kids and the things he taught them.  With Jim working for ONB, that really ties into what we are doing.  He was one of my mentors and someone that I looked up to."
 
Community service is something that McCarty has worked hard at over the course of his entire career.  He has been involved with numerous projects over the years, but calls this his most in-depth venture.
 
"There are some things we did with the Celtics, going to schools and working with community programs, but what we are doing here is much more in depth," he exclaimed.  "To be able to create this program and be involved in every aspect of it will be very special.  I am excited to create relationships with these kids while supporting and being accountable to them.  I have a lot of community work in the past, but nothing at this level."
 
McCarty hopes to have a true impact on the Evansville community and its youth, but it does not stop there.  His goal is to teach those that he works with to give back in any way that they can and to have a positive impact on others.
 
"One quote I always live by is "Give without remembering, take without forgetting."  I think if they can remember what we are trying to accomplish and instill as they grow up, they will understand that they have to give back," he said.  "Someone reached their hand out to them and they will feel like they can reach their hand out to someone else."
 

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