NHS grad Walker Bounds to coach Cougars' boys basketball program

Walker Bounds was met with a "dream opportunity" when Niwot High School Athletic Director Joe Brown reached out to him regarding the school's vacant boys basketball head coaching position.

The 2016 Niwot graduate played three varsity seasons for the Cougars and has long seen the program's potential for success.

"​​Being a Niwot kid, growing up in Niwot and being around the program my whole life, it just meant a little more in the sense that it felt like I was coming home," Bounds said. "It wasn't just another job for me. It was a chance to rebuild a program that has meant a lot to me and a program that I know can go in the right direction in terms of wins and losses. But not only that, (it can be) a powerful program, a program that the community can revolve around and come together and support."

After spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Frederick High School and most recently helping the Golden Eagles to consecutive state semifinal appearances, Bounds was announced as Niwot's basketball head coach on Aug. 16.

"Coach Bounds has demonstrated his dedication to mentoring players and achieving outstanding results," Brown said in a press release. "He has coached numerous future collegiate men's student-athletes, contributing significantly to their growth and success."

Bounds is inheriting Niwot's program from Clay Wittrock, who produced a 22-58 record in his four seasons as head coach.

While at Frederick, Bounds was mentored by his former Niwot head coach, Enoch Miller, who led the Cougars from 2013-15 before moving to Frederick for the next six-plus years, and current Golden Eagles head coach Jeff Conway. There, Bounds helped turn a Frederick program that won just one game in 2017-18 into producing four consecutive winning seasons.

"I learned from Jeff and Enoch what it truly takes to create a culture that kids want to buy into, a winning culture," Bounds said. "That's something that I learned from two great coaches in Jeff and Enoch and is something I want to bring over to Niwot."

Prior to joining Frederick's staff, Bounds spent two seasons coaching at Niwot High's lower levels and played one season at Lake Forest College in Illinois. He also has coaching experience at Colorado Anarchy Basketball, an AAU club program.

Bounds' goal in Year 1 is to set the foundation of a team-first culture.

"For me, that's establishing an environment where kids want to work for their teammate to their left and for their teammate to their right," Bounds said. "There is no coach, no individual that's more important than the team. We will do anything and whatever it takes for the betterment of us as a group."

So far, Bounds has convinced two former Niwot assistants to join him on his staff – his father Matthew Bounds, and Charles Trowbridge.

"I know how special this program can be," Bounds said. "I know that if we have the right mindset, the team mindset that no one is bigger than the program, that we're all going to put in our best effort for not only for ourselves but for each other, for your parents, for the high school and for the Niwot community, I know we can be a very special and successful program."

Niwot will start hosting open gyms for interested players within the next couple of weeks.