JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4JAX is showcasing native Black enterprise house owners throughout our Black Historical past Month protection.
LIST: Local Black-owned businesses in Northeast Florida & Southeast Georgia
One native enterprise proprietor made historical past as the primary African American to personal an expert sports activities group in Jacksonville.
Kevin Waters is the proprietor and president of the Jacksonville 95ers, a semi-pro basketball group.
“I take loads of satisfaction in that,” he mentioned. “I used to be going throughout the Acosta Bridge one time. I simply form of regarded over to the left. That’s after we had The Touchdown and had all of these sights downtown. I mentioned someday, I’m going to do one thing main right here within the metropolis. That has stayed in my head and in my coronary heart all these years.”
The 95ers, who play their house video games at Edward Waters College, start the common season originally of March.
Taking part in on the college is a full-circle second for Waters, who says the college performed a pivotal position in his teaching profession and eventual group possession.
Waters, who’s from Atlanta, moved to Jacksonville towards the tip of faculty. He graduated from Edward Waters College (which was then Edward Waters School).
Earlier than he graduated from EWC, Waters performed school ball at Virginia Wesleyan Group School, the place he was a standout level guard.
He contributed to the group profitable a state title and was named offensive participant of the yr.
He additionally performed at Fisk College, the place he led the group in assists and three-point photographs made.
Waters performed professionally within the Worldwide Basketball League with the Charlotte Royals, then bought his begin in teaching at Edward Waters College as an assistant coach.
Waters held the identical title at Kennesaw State College when the group gained a nationwide NCAA Division II championship in 2003.
“It was a really thrilling time for me,” he mentioned. “I discovered lots about teaching. I discovered lots concerning the mindset to need to be a championship coach and I allowed that to observe me in my teaching profession.”
Waters was later named head basketball coach of the ladies’s basketball group at Murray State College in Kentucky.
In 2008, Waters grew to become the proprietor and head coach of the Jacksonville Bluewaves within the World Basketball Affiliation, making him the primary African American to personal a professional sports activities group within the metropolis.
Waters grew to become the primary African American to win an American Basketball Affiliation (ABA) championship as a head coach when he took the Jacksonville Giants to the championship.
He was the top coach and common supervisor of the semi-pro Giants, who gained three nationwide championships within the ABA throughout his tenure.
Now, he desires to do the identical along with his present squad.
“I had a love for Jacksonville,” Waters mentioned. “I gained a couple of championships with the earlier skilled basketball group right here. I stay up for persevering with to develop right here. I stay up for persevering with to carry different championship groups right here to Jacksonville.”
Waters mentioned he sees proudly owning a group as a group dedication.
“I take a look at being the proprietor as me giving again to the group,” Waters mentioned. “It’s what I like. It’s my ardour so far as basketball.”
And he doesn’t need it to cease with him.
“I need to have the ability to be an instance for others,” he mentioned. “It doesn’t matter your background. It doesn’t matter the place you got here from. When you’ve got the dedication and you place God first to work in your craft, develop into higher and do it from a heartfelt standpoint, you’ll be able to obtain the issues that you just wish to in life.”
The 95ers are coming into their second yr taking part in in “The Basketball League,” an affiliation that has had loads of success, together with having a number of gamers make the soar to the NBA and the G League.
A kind of success tales is Kylor Kelley, who not too long ago made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks on a two-way contract.
Waters additionally provides again to the group by the Kevin Waters Basketball Academy. He hosts a number of basketball clinics yearly and different occasions.
He hosts seminars for youths to see choices past the courtroom, together with courses that train members about administration and possession.
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