Wallace To Take Over Wills Point Basketball Program

The Wills Point school board approved the hiring of James Wallace as the new head basketball coach at the Monday night board meeting.

Wallace has spent the past ten years at Clarksville ISD, and the past five years as head coach. In his first year as head coach, the Clarksville Tigers reached the state tournament. Since then has been seasons as regional finalist, semi-finalist, quarter-finalists and area finalist.

Wallace has compiled a 133-38 record in his five years at the head of the Clarksville program, including an overall district record of 52-6, and a playoff mark of 12-5.

Wallace was also the head boys and girls coach at 1A Forestburg, and led the girls to the first playoff appearance for the school in 17 years.

He has been named district coach of the year four times, and Red River Valley coach of the year twice.

Wallace said that he likes his team to get up and the court, but that philosophy changes based on the type of players he has.

"I always play a lot of man-to-man, and I always want to get the easy shot if we have numbers," Wallace said. "But when I’ve had a dominant big man, I made sure he touched the ball everytime down. So, it depends on the strengths of the players you have."

"From the outside looking in, Wills Point has always looked like a good place to be, and a good school for our kids," Wallace said of his move from 2A Clarksville. "My wife and I felt like we were being led to make a move, and this opportunity came up.

Wallace has two children, Caleb, who will enter the seventh grade, and Tanner, who will be entering the fifth. Wallace and his wife Amanda have been married for fourteen years.

"The only concern we’ve had is how the boys would react," Wallace said of his two sons, "But they are excited. We really believe God was leading us in this direction, and I’m excited to get started.."

A 1993 graduate of Stephen F. Austin University, Wallace will also assist with cross-country.