Jim Walden
Encyclopedia
Jim "Jimmy" Walden is a former American football
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University
from 1978 to 1986 and at Iowa State University
from 1987 to 1994, compiling a career college football
record of 72–109–7.
at the University of Wyoming
under coach Bob Devaney
in the late 1950s, and was one of 33 players selected by the Denver Broncos
in the first AFL Draft
in 1960. He played in the Canadian Football League
before starting his coaching career at the high school level in his native Mississippi.
on Devaney's staff, where he assisted on back-to-back national championship teams in 1970 and 1971. He then coached for four seasons at the University of Miami
under Pete Elliott
and fellow Devaney assistant, Carl Selmer
. Walden followed Warren Powers
, another Devaney assistant, to Washington State University
as offensive backfield coach in 1977 and succeeded Powers as head coach the following season. Walden served as the head coach at Washington State from 1978 to 1986, compiling a 44–52–4 record (.460) and coached some of the greatest players in school history, including Jack Thompson, Rueben Mayes
, Kerry Porter, Ricky Reynolds
, Paul Sorensen, Pat Beach
, Brian Forde, Lee Blakeney, Mark Rypien
, Dan Lynch, Keith Millard
, and Erik Howard
. In his fourth season, Walden coached the 1981 Cougars to the Holiday Bowl
, the school's first bowl appearance in 51 years, where their lost a donnybrook to a BYU
team quarterbacked by Jim McMahon
. That season Walden was selected as the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. In 1985, his WSU team won their third Apple Cup
in four seasons, a feat they have accomplished only two other times (in 1954 and 2007).
Prior to the 1985 Apple Cup, in which the Washington Huskies
were favored, Husky coach Don James jovially contrasted himself to Walden by quipping, "I'm a 2,000 word underdog
."
, where he compiled a 28–57–3 (.335). His best record with the Cyclones was 6–5 in 1989. His final team in 1994 went a winless 0–10–1. Walden ranks sixth at Iowa State in total wins and 22nd winning percentage.
of the Arena Football League
and later for Washington State football. He still hosts a Sunday evening radio show in Iowa
on WHO
called "Two Guys Named Jim". In the final regular season Harris Interactive Poll in 2006, he was the only voter to have Florida
at #1; the other 112 #1 votes went to Ohio State
. Florida handily defeated Ohio State 41–14 in the BCS National Championship Game
on January 8, 2007.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
from 1978 to 1986 and at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
from 1987 to 1994, compiling a career college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
record of 72–109–7.
Playing career
Walden played quarterbackQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
under coach Bob Devaney
Bob Devaney
Robert S. "Bob" Devaney was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Wyoming from 1957 to 1961 and at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 1962 to 1972, compiling a career college football record of 136–30–7...
in the late 1950s, and was one of 33 players selected by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the first AFL Draft
1960 American Football League Draft
The 1960 American Football League Draft was held on November 22, 1959, shortly after the organization of the league, and lasted 33 rounds. An additional draft of 20 rounds was held by the AFL on December 2.- Territorial draft :...
in 1960. He played in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
before starting his coaching career at the high school level in his native Mississippi.
Washington State
Walden began his college coaching career at the University of Nebraska–LincolnUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska...
on Devaney's staff, where he assisted on back-to-back national championship teams in 1970 and 1971. He then coached for four seasons at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
under Pete Elliott
Pete Elliott
-External links:...
and fellow Devaney assistant, Carl Selmer
Carl Selmer
-External links:...
. Walden followed Warren Powers
Warren Powers
Warren Anthony Powers is a former American football coach. He was the head coach of the Missouri Tigers football program from 1978 to 1984. Prior to coming to Missouri, Powers was an assistant coach under both Bob Devaney and Tom Osborne at Nebraska...
, another Devaney assistant, to Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
as offensive backfield coach in 1977 and succeeded Powers as head coach the following season. Walden served as the head coach at Washington State from 1978 to 1986, compiling a 44–52–4 record (.460) and coached some of the greatest players in school history, including Jack Thompson, Rueben Mayes
Rueben Mayes
Rueben Mayes is a Canadian who played in the National Football League from 1986 to 1993.He first gained notoriety as a running back at North Battleford Comprehensive High School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. In 1980 Mayes led the NBCHS Vikings to an undefeated season and the SHSAA 3A...
, Kerry Porter, Ricky Reynolds
Ricky Reynolds
Derrick "Ricky" Scott Reynolds , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round of the 1987 NFL Draft. A 6' 0", 195-lb...
, Paul Sorensen, Pat Beach
Pat Beach
Patrick Jesse Beach was a professional American football tight end in the National Football League for eleven seasons for the Baltimore Colts, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, and Phoenix Cardinals. He played college football at Washington State University and was drafted in the sixth...
, Brian Forde, Lee Blakeney, Mark Rypien
Mark Rypien
Mark Robert Rypien is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He is the first Canadian-born quarterback to start in the NFL.-Biography:...
, Dan Lynch, Keith Millard
Keith Millard
Keith Millard is a former American football defensive tackle who played nine seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks and the Philadelphia Eagles from 1985 to 1993 in the National Football League....
, and Erik Howard
Erik Howard
Erik Matthew Howard is a former professional American football defensive tackle who played eleven seasons in the National Football League...
. In his fourth season, Walden coached the 1981 Cougars to the Holiday Bowl
1981 Holiday Bowl
The 1981 Holiday Bowl was a college football bowl game played December 30, 1981 in San Diego, California. It was part of the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It featured the 14th ranked BYU Cougars, and the 20th ranked Washington State Cougars....
, the school's first bowl appearance in 51 years, where their lost a donnybrook to a BYU
1981 BYU Cougars football team
The 1981 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University in the 1981 college football season. The Cougars offense scored 503 points while the defense allowed 256 points. Led by head coach LaVell Edwards, the Cougars won in the 1981 Holiday Bowl.-Season schedule:-Team players in the...
team quarterbacked by Jim McMahon
Jim McMahon
James Robert "Jim" McMahon, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later in the professional ranks with the Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona...
. That season Walden was selected as the Pac-10 Coach of the Year. In 1985, his WSU team won their third Apple Cup
Apple Cup
The Apple Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game played annually by the teams of the two largest universities in the U.S. state of Washington: the University of Washington Huskies and the Washington State University Cougars...
in four seasons, a feat they have accomplished only two other times (in 1954 and 2007).
Prior to the 1985 Apple Cup, in which the Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies
Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The school is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference. The athletic program is made up of 9 men's sports and 10 women's sports Washington Huskies is the nickname of the University of Washington's athletic teams. The...
were favored, Husky coach Don James jovially contrasted himself to Walden by quipping, "I'm a 2,000 word underdog
Underdog (competition)
An underdog is a person or group in a competition, frequently in electoral politics, sports and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The party, team or individual expected to win is called the favorite or top dog. In the rare case where an underdog wins, the outcome is an upset. These...
."
Iowa State
Following a 3–7–1 season in the 1986 season, Walden left WSU to become the 28th head coach for Iowa StateIowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
, where he compiled a 28–57–3 (.335). His best record with the Cyclones was 6–5 in 1989. His final team in 1994 went a winless 0–10–1. Walden ranks sixth at Iowa State in total wins and 22nd winning percentage.
Later life
Since retiring from Iowa State, Walden served as a radio color commentator, first for the Iowa BarnstormersIowa Barnstormers
The Iowa Barnstormers are an arena football team based in Des Moines, Iowa. They are currently members of the Arena Football League , which they joined in 2010 following the organization's restructuring...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
and later for Washington State football. He still hosts a Sunday evening radio show in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
on WHO
WHO (AM)
WHO is a clear channel radio station broadcasting 50,000 watts on 1040 AM with a news/talk format. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications and is located in Des Moines, Iowa. The station can be heard over most of the continental United States during nighttime hours...
called "Two Guys Named Jim". In the final regular season Harris Interactive Poll in 2006, he was the only voter to have Florida
2006 Florida Gators football team
The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season...
at #1; the other 112 #1 votes went to Ohio State
2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team
The 2006 Ohio State Buckeyes football team was an American football team representing the Ohio State University in the college football season of 2006-2007. The team's head coach was Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes played their home games in Ohio Stadium...
. Florida handily defeated Ohio State 41–14 in the BCS National Championship Game
2007 BCS National Championship Game
The 2007 BCS National Championship Game, sponsored by Tostitos, was an American football game played at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, 2007. The BCS No. 2 Florida Gators defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes, 41–14. The Buckeyes secured a spot by finishing...
on January 8, 2007.