Randy Walker (American football coach) facts for kids
Walker in 2000
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 29, 1954 Troy, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | June 29, 2006 (aged 52) Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1973–1975 | Miami (OH) |
| Position(s) | Fullback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1976–1977 | Miami (OH) (RB) |
| 1978–1981 | North Carolina (RB) |
| 1982–1985 | North Carolina (QB) |
| 1985–1987 | North Carolina (OC/QB) |
| 1988–1989 | Northwestern (RB) |
| 1990–1998 | Miami (OH) |
| 1999–2005 | Northwestern |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 96–81–5 |
| Bowls | 0–3 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 Big Ten (2000) | |
| Awards | |
| Big Ten Coach of the Year (2000) | |
Randy J. Walker (born May 29, 1954 – died June 29, 2006) was a very successful American college football player and coach. He led the football teams at Miami University from 1990 to 1998 and at Northwestern University from 1999 to 2005. Randy Walker won a total of 96 games as a head coach. At Miami, he won 59 games, which was more than many famous coaches before him, like Woody Hayes and Bo Schembechler.
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Randy Walker's Playing Days
Randy Walker was a star player in high school for the Troy Trojans in Ohio. He had offers from big schools, but he chose to go to Miami University to be with his high school sweetheart, Tammy.
He played as a fullback for the Miami Redskins for three seasons. During his time, the team had an amazing record of 32 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie! They were ranked among the top teams in the country each year. Miami also won the Mid-American Conference championship three times in a row. They even won three Tangerine Bowl games against tough teams like Florida and Georgia. In his final year, Randy was named the team's most valuable player.
After college, the Cincinnati Bengals football team drafted him. But Randy decided to become a coach instead of playing professionally.
Randy Walker's Coaching Journey
Randy Walker started his coaching career as an assistant. He coached running backs at Miami Redskins and then moved to the University of North Carolina, where he coached running backs and quarterbacks. He even became the offensive coordinator there. Later, he coached running backs for the Northwestern Wildcats.
Coaching at Miami University
In 1990, Randy Walker became the head coach at Miami University. The team had only won two games in the two years before he arrived, so he had a big challenge. In his first year, he improved their record to 5 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie.
Randy kept making the team better over his nine years there. In his last year, 1998, the team had an incredible 10 wins and only 1 loss! This team was led by a fantastic running back named Travis Prentice. Randy finished his time at Miami with 59 wins, 35 losses, and 5 ties. He even led his teams to victories over highly ranked opponents from bigger conferences.
Coaching at Northwestern University
In 1999, Randy Walker became the head coach for the Northwestern Wildcats. He changed their offense in 2000, using a style called the "spread formation." Even though it was a spread offense, his teams were known for their very strong running game. In fact, almost every year he coached at Northwestern, he had a player who ran for over 1,000 yards!
This new offense helped the Wildcats share the Big Ten title in his second year. Randy Walker is the third-winningest coach in Northwestern's history. He was also the first Northwestern coach to lead three different teams to bowl games. Plus, he was the first coach there to guide three straight teams to four or more Big Ten wins.
A Sad Farewell
On June 29, 2006, Randy Walker passed away suddenly at the age of 52. He had a heart attack, which shocked and saddened everyone at Northwestern. He had dealt with a heart infection a few years earlier. On July 7, 2006, Pat Fitzgerald was chosen to take over as the Wildcats' head coach.
Life Beyond Football
Randy Walker grew up in Troy, Ohio. In high school, he was not just a football player; he was also very talented in other areas. He sang the lead in school musicals, played the violin, and was active in student government. He earned two degrees from Miami University.
He was married to his high school sweetheart, Tammy. They met on a committee planning a Thanksgiving dance when he was a junior and she was a senior. He followed her to Miami University, and they got married in 1975. They had two children, a daughter named Abbey and a son named Jamie.
Randy once shared a story about a defining moment in his life from 1969. His high school football team had a tough season. In the last game, with the score tied, he was tackled just 18 inches from the end zone on the final play. His coach made the team carry an 18-inch piece of cloth until the next season to remember that moment. This motivated Randy to work harder. He started lifting weights and joined the track team to get faster and stronger. After that, his high school teams didn't lose another game for two whole seasons!
Head Coaching Record Summary
Randy Walker had a successful career as a head football coach.
- Miami Redskins / RedHawks (1990–1998):
- Overall Record: 59 wins, 36 losses, 5 ties
- Conference Record: 46 wins, 24 losses, 3 ties
- Northwestern Wildcats (1999–2005):
- Overall Record: 37 wins, 46 losses
- Conference Record: 24 wins, 32 losses
- Career Overall Record: 96 wins, 81 losses, 5 ties
