Here's the Walker release from NMSU
Here's the press release New Mexico State just issued moments ago concerning the hiring of UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker as its football coach.
For Immediate Release
December 30, 2008
Walker To Be Introduced As New Aggie Head Football Coach On Wednesday
Las Cruces, N.M. - New Mexico State Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston has confirmed that Dewayne Walker will be introduced as the Aggies' 33rd head football coach on Wednesday morning. A news conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. (Mountain Time) in the Stan Fulton Athletics Center on the third floor. The news conference will be streamed live on the New Mexico State Athletics website, www.nmstatesports.com
Walker has been a part of the coaching ranks for 21 years at both the collegiate and professional levels. Most recently, Walker was in his third season as UCLA's defensive coordinator. In addition, he served as UCLA's interim head coach for the 2007 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl game. Walker, who excelled at coaching defenses for three different organizations in the National Football League prior to coming to UCLA, has established himself as one of the top defensive minds in the collegiate game. His professional coaching resume includes stops with the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and the New England Patriots.
Walker's Bruin defenses ranked 33rd, 29th and 48th in the nation that past three season. In 2008, UCLA's passing defense was among the nation's leaders, ranking 11th overall by holding its opponents to just 167.6 yards per game through the air.
Walker replaces Hal Mumme, who was the Aggies' head coach from 2004-07.
Walker also said that he would feel right at home in New Mexico where expectations are so low that the fan base will count moral victories the same as actual vicories. At UCLA we had a similar attitude and that will help with the adjustment period.
His time at PUSC prepared him for where he now spends his days. He is amazed at seeing a lot of fellow alumns and a population with a higher mean IQ than PUSC students/alumns.
His only disappointment is that Pete Carroll could not pay off the legal authorities in Nevada...
Congrats to Coach Walker. He exuded class all the way at UCLA and we have a much better program due to having him here. Best of luck to Coach W at NMSU.
33rd? yikes! How old is that program? Even if it's 100 years old that's still about 1 coach every 3 years. He seems to be right on target. So i guess Walker will be hired into another program for being successful or fired for noty beiong any good. But Good luck to you DeWayne.