Matt Walker has been named the head football coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls according to Falcon Athletics Director, Roger Ternes.
"We are extremely pleased to have Matt join the athletics staff at UW-River Falls as our head football coach," said Ternes on Tuesday. Walker's first day at the University will be Jan. 3, 2011.
Walker, 33, was the head football coach at DePauw University from 2006-09 and compiled a 22-8 overall record. His teams finished 13-7 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference and placed second in the final conference standings in 2007 and 2008. From 2000-05 he was an assistant coach with the Tigers and coached running backs and wide receivers.
During the 2010 season he was an offensive assistant coach at Butler University and coached tight ends.
"Matt brings a wealth of successful football experiences to the position,” said Ternes. “He has the necessary intangibles to be successful at UW-River Falls. He is a man of incontrovertible character who embodies the ethics and ideals established here at the UW-River Falls."
“Our family is honored to become a member of both the UWRF and River Falls communities,” said Walker. “I'm anxious to meet with the team and the entire Falcon athletic department staff. I'm ready to get started and get to work.”
Walker was also the head baseball coach at DePauw from 2001-09 and led the Tigers to five conference divisional championships and to a NCAA regional berth in 2001. He was named the conference Coach of the Year in 2001. Three times he led the Tigers to the most wins in a single season (2004, 2005, 2008).
From 1997-2005 he was the head baseball coach and general manager of a semi-professional baseball team in Crawfordsville, Ind.
He earned a sports science undergraduate degree from DePauw in 1999. He went on to earn his master's degree in physical education from Indiana State in 2001.
At DePauw he played football from 1997-99 as a quarterback. He also earned three letters in baseball. He was a pitcher and was named to the 1999 All-SCAC team.
Walker was an instructor of kinesiology at DePauw and will have teaching responsibilities in the UWRF health & human performance department.
Walker, a native of Crawfordsville, Ind., will be the University's 20th head football coach in the school's history. He replaces John O'Grady who completed his 22nd season with the Falcons in 2010. O'Grady retired after the 2010 season.
Walker's wife's name is Jana and they have two daughters; Kraly, 5, and Hudson, nine months.
“I could not be more excited about this opportunity to coach at a great institution in an outstanding conference,” said Walker. “I want to thank Roger (Ternes), Crystal (Lanning - chair of the search & screen committee), the entire search and screen committee, Chancellor (Dean) Van Galen and everyone who made me feel so comfortable during this process.”
