PHS Wildcats
06-30-2006, 02:20 AM
Sad News, Remember no one is promised tomorrow!! Thoughts and Prayer are with his family!!!
Updated: June 30, 2006, 3:13 AM ET
Northwestern's Walker dies of apparent heart attackSportsTicker
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern football coach Randy Walker died Thursday night of an apparent heart attack. He was 52.
Walker, who joined the Wildcats in 1999 after nine years at Miami (Ohio), guided the team to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl this past season. He became the first coach in school history since C.M. Hollister (1899-1902) to register four seasons of at least six wins.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Tammy, and his two children, Abbey and Jamie," Northwestern director of athletics Mark Murphy said in a statement released by the school. "This is a devastating loss, not only for our athletic program, but for the entire Northwestern community. Randy truly embraced Northwestern and its mission, and cared deeply for his student-athletes, both on and off the field."
The university will conduct a news conference Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
A native of Troy, Ohio, Walker left Miami as the winningest coach in school history, posting a 59-35-5 mark with the RedHawks. He graduated from the university in 1976.
With Northwestern, Walker compiled a 37-46 overall record and led the team to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Alamo Bowl in 2000. The first coach in school history to guide the team to three bowl games, Walker also helped earn the Wildcats a spot in the 2003 Motor City Bowl.
Walker, who received a contract extension through 2011 in April, ranks 27th on the NCAA's all-time wins list (96) for active Division I-A coaches with at least five years of experience.
Less than two years ago, Walker was hospitalized with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle commonly caused by a virus.
Updated: June 30, 2006, 3:13 AM ET
Northwestern's Walker dies of apparent heart attackSportsTicker
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern football coach Randy Walker died Thursday night of an apparent heart attack. He was 52.
Walker, who joined the Wildcats in 1999 after nine years at Miami (Ohio), guided the team to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl this past season. He became the first coach in school history since C.M. Hollister (1899-1902) to register four seasons of at least six wins.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Tammy, and his two children, Abbey and Jamie," Northwestern director of athletics Mark Murphy said in a statement released by the school. "This is a devastating loss, not only for our athletic program, but for the entire Northwestern community. Randy truly embraced Northwestern and its mission, and cared deeply for his student-athletes, both on and off the field."
The university will conduct a news conference Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
A native of Troy, Ohio, Walker left Miami as the winningest coach in school history, posting a 59-35-5 mark with the RedHawks. He graduated from the university in 1976.
With Northwestern, Walker compiled a 37-46 overall record and led the team to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Alamo Bowl in 2000. The first coach in school history to guide the team to three bowl games, Walker also helped earn the Wildcats a spot in the 2003 Motor City Bowl.
Walker, who received a contract extension through 2011 in April, ranks 27th on the NCAA's all-time wins list (96) for active Division I-A coaches with at least five years of experience.
Less than two years ago, Walker was hospitalized with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle commonly caused by a virus.