CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Cleveland State head men's basketball coach Gary Waters will receive the President's Medal at Spring Commencement on Saturday (May 13), which beings at 9:30 am in the Wolstein Center.

The President's Medal is CSU's highest nonacademic honor and is awarded to an individual or group whose commitment and dedication to the University are beyond question. The recipient has also made continuing contributions to the interests and mission of Cleveland State University.

Waters retired in March after serving as the head men's basketball coach for 11 seasons at CSU, concluding his career as the all-time leader in program history in wins (194), League wins (99) and games coached (366). He also ranks second in winning percentage (.530).

Waters went 194-172 during his 11 seasons at CSU, winning 20 or more games five times and leading six of his teams to the postseason, including a bid to the 2008 NCAA tournament after winning the Horizon League Championship. Waters led the Vikings to a first round win over 12th-ranked Wake Forest and a spot in the round of 32.

He also led the Vikings to the 2008, 2011 and 2012 NIT, and the 2014 and 2015 CollegeInsider.com tournament.

In addition, all seniors who were in the program during Waters' tenure graduated with their degree and the program received four consecutive public recognition awards from the NCAA (2012-16) for having an academic performance rate that was in the top-10 percent nationally.

The 2015 recipient of the Master Coach Award from the Nations of Coaches, Waters was also a finalist for the 2014 and 2015 Ben Jobe Award, which is presented annually to the top minority coach in college basketball.