In a heartfelt move, Curtis Waltman, one of the Lancaster-Lebanon League's basketball legends, is stepping away from his coaching role at Garden Spot. Known for his incredible scoring record of 2,689 points during his playing days, Waltman has decided to prioritize family time over the demands of coaching.
Reflecting on his decision, Waltman shared, “Basketball is a full-year commitment. My goal is to do what’s best for the kids in the program. I just knew I didn’t have the time that was needed to commit.”
During his three-year tenure, Waltman led Garden Spot to a 12-10 and 10-12 record in his first two seasons, featuring standout player Jace Conrad, who surpassed the 1,000-point mark. However, the team faced challenges last season, finishing with a 3-19 record. The departure of key players, such as Drew Tibbins and Dauton Nolt, who transferred to other schools and achieved significant success, added to the hurdles.
Garden Spot, known for its storied past, including the "Blonde Bombers" era with 21 wins in the 2000-01 season, has experienced sporadic success since. Waltman remains optimistic about the future, believing that with the right combination of talent and leadership, success will return.
Waltman will continue to contribute to Garden Spot as a teacher and track and field assistant coach. Meanwhile, the team looks forward to the return of key players Seth Musselman and MJ Davis next season.
While stepping down was a tough call for Waltman, he expressed gratitude for his time coaching, saying, “It was very bittersweet. I love coaching basketball here.
It was a dream come true for me. I just knew that somebody else could have the time to do a much better job than what I could do.”
As Garden Spot seeks a new leader, the Lancaster-Lebanon League sees three coaching vacancies, with Lebanon and Northern Lebanon also in search of fresh leadership. The league's landscape is poised for change, and fans will be watching closely to see how these teams evolve.