Chris Hyppa

• Narrows League Most Valuable Player (1996) - Stadium High School
• Slected to play in Washington All-State Game
• NWAACC Western Region First Team (1998) - Centralia Community College
• Honorable Mention GNAC (2001) - Saint Martin's College
• Toured New Zealand with Planet Basketball (2001)
• Played five years semi-professionally with Tacoma (IBL).
• Spent three years as an Assistant Coach at Foss High School (2003-2006)
• Currently an Assistant Coach at Stadium High School (2006-present)

Chris takes great pride in individual skill development and conditioning. His workouts are very unique. His experience playing collegiately and semi-prefessionally along with his connection to the youth in Tacoma make him a valuable asset to our Academy.

"My focus is on offensive skill development and ball-handling. The workouts I create can be tailored for the beginning player to the Elite Athletes."

"My goal is to push the athletes I work with not only physically but mentally."

"The ability to work through uncomfortable situations will make you a better player!"

"Hard work doesn't guarantee success; but without it you have no chance."

Jackie Thomas

Jackie Thomas, a Curtis High School ('04) and Seattle University ('08/ MIT '09) graduate continues to pursue her passion for academics, athletics, service, and leadership through the University Place School District. She serves as the Athletic Academics and MAC Scholars Coordinator, and the director/founder of Ladies of the Court. These three programs serve young men and women to help them recognize, visualize, and capitalize on their innate and potential ability as a student, athlete, and servant leader.

While at Seattle University ('04-'08), Thomas competed under head Coach Dan Kriley. She became Seattle University's all-time steals leader, male or female, finishing with 234 career steals, and her 84 steals during her senior season is a Seattle University single season record. She also set the GNAC career records for most steals and steals per game in conference games with 158 thefts for 2.93 steals per game in conference play.

A three-time Academic All-GNAC selection, Thomas graduated with honors, earning her BA in sociology. She then went on to get her Masters of Teaching, both of which are from Seattle University. Other awards include her earning All-GNAC Honorable Mention, the Distinguished Graduate Award for her contributions to the campus community, named a member of the women's basketball first team of the 2008 Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar Annual Awards by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, as well as being one of 30 semifinalists for the National Collegiate Athletic Association Woman of the Year Award.

As you can see, Jackie is a great addition to the Impact family as we look to assist the members of the Academy on and off the court.

Coach Joyce Walker

Coach Walker is on a mission to coach athletes who share here passion for the sport, commitment, and desire to be part of something truly exceptional.

As a legendary player and High School coach, Walker has demonstrated her passion for the game and ability to build winning teams. Walker was a basketball star at Garfield High School in Seattle in the late 1970s. As a senior in 1980, she averaged over 35 points per game and set the still-extant Washington State tournament records of 40 points and 17 field goals en route to a State Championship. Her dominance landed her a place in the National High School Hall of Fame and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Hall of Fame. She is considered by many to be the best female basketball player from Washington.

In the early 1980s Walker played at Louisiana State University on Coach Sue Gunter's first Lady Tigers Team, averaging nearly 25 points per game. A two-time All American, she is in the Louisiana State Hall of Fame. After stints of playing pro ball in Italy and Germany, Walker joined the Harlem Globetrotters, following the trailblazing Woodard by a mere three weeks.

In 2000 Walker returned home to her alma mater, Garfield High School as Head Coach of the Girls Basketball program. Within four years the Lady Bulldogs became the dominant team in the region, winning the State Championship in 2004, with the team's journey and her contributions bringing recognition to urban women's basketball, as highlighted in the movie Heart of the Game. In 2009 Walker's jersey was officially retired, bringing closure to her career as High School Player and Coach at Garfield.

Walker transitioned into AAU basketball as Head Coach and Trainer of the High School Elite Program for Northwest Magic, an Adidas-sponsored club in Tacoma, WA. Within two years the Northwest Magic Program grew to include several teams, located throughout the Puget Sound region for girls grade 3 through High School, with her 2010 Junior Elite Team successfully competing in National Tournaments in Cincinnati and Las Vegas. With these experiences Walker recognized her calling to train and grow in body, mind and spirit with a core group of committed athletes.