New season. New attitude. New direction.

That sums up plans for the varsity Tinker Hawks basketball team this season under new coach Tracey Walker.

Walker, also the Gerrity Fitness and Sports Center director, said the 2016-2017 season in the Central U.S. Military Basketball League will be a rebuilding year. In the last few years, the Hawks have gone from an elite team to be feared to a middle-of-the-road contender in the 16-team league.

“Our plan right now is at the conference level getting back to an upper-tier program,” Walker said. “It’s doable. It’s a long ride, but it’s doable. If we can get back to being a top-tier program, we want to go to nationals again this year.”

The Hawks were conference champions in 2013 and 2014, but lost two consecutive games to drop early out of the National Military Basketball Tournament in San Antonio last spring.

Walker has coached basketball for more than 20 years, ranging from Pee Wees to AAU high school. The disciplinarian has implemented stricter rules about practice attendance and each players’ commitment to improving the team.

“My attitude is, this is something that if you come, you’re going to represent, and represent accordingly,” Walker said. “My job is to hold them accountable and to represent this great base, their families and themselves.”

Walker will also get help from an expanded coaching staff. Last year’s head coach Jonathan Morgan is back as an assistant coach, along with legendary and formerly retired Hawks coach Clarence Griffin.

The team is currently 21 deep with a lineup of longtime ballers, Jarail Smith and D. Finley, plus some new younger players for high-tempo play and full court press, if needed.

The pool includes players with college basketball experience, such as Oryan Shannon, Southwest Christian University; Steven Dudley, Mid-America Christian University; Bryce Kemp, University of New Orleans; and more.

“I’ve got a deeper bench where I can substitute more often, and I can run several different schemes and sets,” Walker said. “I can go with a small-guard speedy lineup or press the floor and come into a half-court set.”

All of those extra options will improve the team’s prospects, he said.

“I guarantee you we will be one of the top bases before this season’s over,” Walker said. “I can’t promise, but I guarantee that.”

Hawks play home Oct. 1-2

The Tinker Hawks will take on Barksdale AFB, La., and Sheppard AFB, Texas, teams Oct. 1 and 2 at the Gerrity Fitness Center main court.

The free conference games will start at noon Oct. 1 as Tinker tackles Sheppard. Barksdale and Sheppard will play at 2 p.m. that Saturday. The last game will be Barksdale-Tinker at 4.

Sunday’s games start at 11 a.m. with Barksdale versus Tinker. Barksdale and Sheppard will play at 1 p.m. The day wraps up with Tinker taking on Sheppard at 3.