DeWayne Walker

DeWayne Morris Walker (born December 3, 1960) is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He most recently served as the defensive backs coach of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). Walker played college football at the University of Minnesota and professionally in the Canadian Football League (CFL), with Edmonton Eskimos in 1982, and in the United States Football League (USFL), with the Oakland Invaders in 1984 and the Arizona Outlaws in 1985. Walker served as the head football coach at New Mexico State University from 2009 to 2012, compiling a record of 10–41 in four seasons.

DeWayne Walker
Walker at UCLA in 2008
Personal information
Born: (1960-12-03) December 3, 1960
Los Angeles, Calfifornia
Career information
High school:Pasadena (CA) John Muir
College:Minnesota
Undrafted:1982
Career history
As player:
As coach:

Early life and college

Born in Los Angeles, Walker graduated from John Muir High School of Pasadena, California in 1978. Walker attended and played for Pasadena City College for two years before transferring to the University of Minnesota, where he was a two-year starter.[1]

In 1992, Walker completed his B.A. in liberal arts at Regents College (now Excelsior College).[2]

Professional playing career

Walker played for the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos in 1982 and the USFL's Oakland Invaders in 1984 and Arizona Outlaws in 1985.

Coaching career

Walker was Pete Carroll's first hire once he became head coach of the USC Trojans in 2001; Walker oversaw the secondary and had spent the previous three seasons in a similar role with the New England Patriots. When Carroll hired Walker, he noted "He was with me [. . .] in the NFL, and he was able to learn my style and understand my system".[3]

Between USC and coaching the UCLA Bruins, Walker was a secondary coach for the National Football League Washington Redskins and New York Giants. He has also coached for the New England Patriots and at Mount San Antonio College, Utah State, BYU, Oklahoma State and California.

UCLA Bruins

In December 2006, his defense held the rival USC Trojans under 10 points for the first time since 2001. It helped the Bruins end a seven-game losing streak in the UCLA–USC rivalry.

Following the dismissal of UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell in December 2007, Walker was asked to be the head coach of the Bruins in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl. Dorrell was offered the opportunity to coach a final game, but declined.[4][5] The Bruins faced Mountain West Conference champion Brigham Young University, a team they defeated earlier in the season. BYU beat UCLA 17–16 when BYU Cougars defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna blocked a 28-yard field goal as time expired.[6] This left Walker with a 0–1 record as head coach.

After the Las Vegas bowl game, speculations arose on whether Walker would return to the program. Among others, he received an offer to replace Kent Baer as defensive coordinator at the University of Washington. On January 1, 2008, Sporting News columnist Tom Dienhart reported that Walker had accepted the offer.[7] The story, however, turned out to be untrue, as Los Angeles Times reporter Chris Foster reported that Walker would stay at UCLA and remain defensive coordinator for the Bruins.[8] The Sporting News later retracted the story. Walker interviewed for the UCLA Bruin head coaching position and was one of the leading candidates for the position along with Rick Neuheisel, Al Golden of Temple, and Norm Chow. The job eventually went to Neuheisel and Walker remained as defensive coordinator.[9]

New Mexico State

On December 31, 2008, Walker was named head coach at New Mexico State University. Walker became the second African-American coach in school history and the seventh African-American FBS coach at that time.[10] He resigned as head coach after the 2012 season.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On January 22, 2013, it was reported that Walker would leave New Mexico State in favor of the defensive backs job with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[11][12]

Head coaching record
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
UCLA Bruins (Pacific-10 Conference) (2007)
2007 UCLA 0–1L Las Vegas
New Mexico State Aggies (Western Athletic Conference) (2009–2012)
2009 New Mexico State 3–101–7T–8th
2010 New Mexico State 2–101–78th
2011 New Mexico State 4–92–57th
2012 New Mexico State 1–110–67th
New Mexico State: 10–404–25
Total:10–41
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References
  1. "DeWayne Walker". USC Trojans. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  2. "DeWayne Walker". New Mexico State Aggies. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  3. David Wharton, Carroll’s First Hire Is Walker, Los Angeles Times, December 19, 2000, Accessed July 15, 2008.
  4. Brian Dohn. UCLA fires coach Dorrell. Archived December 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Los Angeles Daily News. 12 March 2007 11:18:47 AM PST. Quote: During his tenure, UCLA's off-the-field image, which took a beating under coach Bob Toledo, was cleaned up. But on the field too many inconsistent performances did in Dorrell, who was 1–4 against USC, including Saturday's 24–7 loss at the Coliseum.
  5. Associated Press. Fired Dorrell won't coach UCLA in Las Vegas Bowl. December 4, 2007. Quote: Ousted UCLA football coach Karl Dorrell has decided not to coach the Bruins when they play BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.
  6. Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl Game Story Dec. 22, 2007 No. 17 BYU (11–2) won its second-consecutive Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl, escaping with a 17–16 victory over UCLA (6–7) after defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna blocked a 28-yard field goal as time expired
  7. Sporting News: Walker to Stay at UCLA Archived January 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. January 1, 2008, Original title:Huskies turn to UCLA coordinator, original quote:" The University of Washington has hired former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker as its new defensive coordinator (link was associated with retracted story, but not before being caught by Sportsnipe.)
  8. Los Angeles Times: Football assistant coach Walker to stay at UCLA. January 3, 2008
  9. Kevin Pearson – Walker will get second interview for UCLA head coaching position. Riverside Press Enterprise, December 22, 2007.
  10. UCLA's Walker to be named New Mexico State coach, Los Angeles Times, December 30, 2008, Accessed December 30, 2008.
  11. McMurphy, Brett (January 24, 2013). "DeWayne Walker to join Jags staff". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  12. Jaguars hire Walker to coach DBs
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