Ryan Walters (American football) facts for kids
Walters in 2023
|
|
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive coordinator |
| Team | Washington |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | January 21, 1986 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2004–2008 | Colorado |
| Position(s) | Safety |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2009 | Colorado (SA) |
| 2010 | Arizona (GA) |
| 2011 | Arizona (DB) |
| 2012 | Oklahoma (GA) |
| 2013 | North Texas (CB) |
| 2014 | Memphis (CB) |
| 2015 | Missouri (S) |
| 2016–2017 | Missouri (co-DC/S) |
| 2018–2020 | Missouri (DC/S) |
| 2021–2022 | Illinois (DC) |
| 2023–2024 | Purdue |
| 2025–present | Washington (DC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 5–19 |
Ryan Walters, born on January 21, 1986, is an American college football coach. He is currently the defensive coordinator for the University of Washington football team. Before becoming a coach, he played college football as a safety for the Colorado Buffaloes from 2004 to 2008.
Walters has held important coaching roles, including defensive coordinator for the Missouri Tigers (2018–2020) and the Illinois Fighting Illini (2021–2022). He also served as the head football coach for the Purdue Boilermakers from 2023 to 2024.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Ryan Walters was born in Los Angeles, California. His father, Marc, also played quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes. Ryan grew up in Aurora, Colorado.
Playing Career
High School Football
Walters went to Grandview High School in Aurora, Colorado. He played quarterback there. In 2002, as a junior, he threw for 1,582 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also ran for 478 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a senior in 2003, he set a school record for career touchdown passes.
College Football at Colorado
After high school, Walters received a football scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder. He started as a quarterback but later switched to playing safety.
- Freshman Year (2005): Walters spent his first year as a redshirt, meaning he practiced but did not play in games. This helped him gain strength. He played in 9 games as a redshirt freshman, making 16 tackles.
- Sophomore Year (2006): He became a starting safety for the Buffaloes. He made his first two interceptions against Texas Tech. He also scored his first college touchdown by recovering a fumble and running 95 yards.
- Junior Year (2007): Walters was recognized as a top player before the season started. He made a career-high 16 tackles against Colorado State. He also intercepted a pass from future NFL quarterback Sam Bradford.
- Senior Year (2008): He was named a team captain. He continued to play well, earning honorable mention All-Big 12 honors. He was also voted the team's MVP. He finished his college career with 5 interceptions. Walters graduated from Colorado in 2008 with a degree in history.
Coaching Career
Starting Out
Walters began his coaching journey at Colorado in 2009 as a student assistant. He then moved to Arizona, first as a graduate assistant in 2010. In 2011, he became the defensive backs coach, making him the youngest assistant coach in the Pac-10 Conference at 25 years old.
He also worked as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 2012. After that, he coached cornerbacks at North Texas in 2013 and for the Memphis Tigers in 2014.
Missouri Tigers
In 2015, Walters joined the Missouri coaching staff as the safeties coach. He was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2016. By 2018, he became the full-time defensive coordinator for Missouri, a role he held until 2020.
Illinois Fighting Illini
In January 2021, Walters became the new defensive coordinator for the Illinois Fighting Illini. Under his leadership in 2022, the Illini defense was one of the best in the country. They ranked second in points allowed and first in interceptions. Walters was recognized as a finalist for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation's top assistant coach.
Purdue Boilermakers (Head Coach)
On December 13, 2022, Ryan Walters was named the 37th head football coach for Purdue University. At the time, he was one of the youngest head coaches in the FBS.
- 2023 Season: In his first season as head coach, Purdue finished with a 4–8 record. They had some close games and notable wins, including a victory over Virginia Tech and a strong win against Illinois. They also won the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game against Indiana.
- 2024 Season: The 2024 season was challenging for the Boilermakers, as they finished with a 1–11 record. Their only win was against the Indiana State Sycamores at the start of the season. After the season ended, Walters was no longer the head coach at Purdue.
Washington Huskies
On January 3, 2025, Walters was hired as the defensive coordinator for the University of Washington.
Family
Ryan Walters is married to Tara, and they have two sons named Aaron and Cason.
Head Coaching Record
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purdue Boilermakers (Big Ten Conference) (2023–2024) | |||||||||
| 2023 | Purdue | 4–8 | 3–6 | T–4th (West) | |||||
| 2024 | Purdue | 1–11 | 0–9 | 18th | |||||
| Purdue: | 5–19 | 3–15 | |||||||
| Total: | 5–19 | ||||||||
