Peahead Walker
Encyclopedia
Douglas Clyde "Peahead" Walker (1899 in Alabama
– July 17, 1970 in Charlotte, North Carolina
) was a former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
and of the Montreal Alouettes
.
Walker's coaching career began in 1926 at Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, North Carolina
, (today known as Barton College
) where he also played professional baseball for the Wilson Bugs of the Virginia League. In his one year as head football coach, Walker was 6-1-1 and his "Little Christians" (later, "Bulldogs") were scored upon only once. He also had success with the Atlantic Christian basketball and baseball teams.
Next, in 1927, Walker accepted the position of head coach of all three major teams at Elon College
(now Elon University) near Burlington, North Carolina
. He coached at Elon for ten seasons, earning a 45-40-4 record and winning four North State Conference
Championships.
Peahead Walker coached at Wake Forest
from 1937 to 1950. Focusing on recruiting, blocking, tackling, kicking, discipline, strength, and conditioning he established a brilliant coaching career at WFU. He compiled a record of 77-51-6 during his fourteen year at the school and led the Deacons to two bowl games, a win over South Carolina
in the 1946 inaugural Gator Bowl
and a 20-7 loss to Baylor
in the 1949 Dixie Bowl
. He is the school's winningest head coach.
After quiting Wake Forest, Walker sought a higher paying job and joined longtime friend and former assistant Herman Hickman
at Yale
. After one year at Yale, he replaced the retiring Lew Hayman
as the second head coach of the CFL
's Montreal Alouettes. There he had a 59-48-1 record in eight seasons and won four division titles before retiring after 1959 season
. After his retirement he became a scout for the New York Giants
. He was elected into the Wake Forest Athletics Hall of Fame after his death in 1971.
One of Walker's longtime friends was Arnold Palmer
, who Walker tried to recruit to his football team while Palmer was at Wake Forest.
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
– July 17, 1970 in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
) was a former head coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Originally, Wake Forest's athletic teams were known as the Fighting Baptists, due to its association with the Baptist Convention...
and of the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
.
Walker's coaching career began in 1926 at Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson is a city and the county seat of Wilson County in the Coastal Plain region of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 18th largest city in the state, Wilson had a population of 49,167 according to the 2010 census.- Geography :...
, (today known as Barton College
Barton College
Barton College is a private liberal arts college located in Wilson, North Carolina. Barton College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, The NC Association of Colleges and Universities; the NC Department of Public Instruction; the NC Board of Nursing; and the Committee...
) where he also played professional baseball for the Wilson Bugs of the Virginia League. In his one year as head football coach, Walker was 6-1-1 and his "Little Christians" (later, "Bulldogs") were scored upon only once. He also had success with the Atlantic Christian basketball and baseball teams.
Next, in 1927, Walker accepted the position of head coach of all three major teams at Elon College
Elon University
Elon University is a private liberal arts university in Elon, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Elon College, it became Elon University on June 1, 2001. The campus is a botanical garden and features oak trees, brick sidewalks, fountains, and lakes...
(now Elon University) near Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington, North Carolina
Burlington is a city in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the principal city of the Burlington, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Alamance County, in which most of the city is located. The population was 49,963 at the 2010...
. He coached at Elon for ten seasons, earning a 45-40-4 record and winning four North State Conference
North State Conference
The North State Conference was a collegiate athletic conference in the United States and is the predecessor of Conference Carolinas. Founded on December 6, 1930 at the Washington Duke Hotel in Durham, North Carolina, the conference was formed “for the greater advantage of the small colleges in...
Championships.
Peahead Walker coached at Wake Forest
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
from 1937 to 1950. Focusing on recruiting, blocking, tackling, kicking, discipline, strength, and conditioning he established a brilliant coaching career at WFU. He compiled a record of 77-51-6 during his fourteen year at the school and led the Deacons to two bowl games, a win over South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in the 1946 inaugural Gator Bowl
Gator Bowl
The Gator Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida. Held continuously since 1946, it is the sixth oldest college bowl, as well as the first one ever televised nationally...
and a 20-7 loss to Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
in the 1949 Dixie Bowl
1949 Dixie Bowl
The 1949 Dixie Bowl, part of the 1948 bowl game season, took place on January 1, 1949, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The competing teams were the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, representing the Southern Conference , and the , representing the Southwest Conference...
. He is the school's winningest head coach.
After quiting Wake Forest, Walker sought a higher paying job and joined longtime friend and former assistant Herman Hickman
Herman Hickman
Herman M. Hickman was a Hall of Fame college football player for the University of Tennessee and later a head football coach for Yale University. He played pro football for the NFL's Brooklyn Dodgers. He later was a TV and radio analyst and broadcaster, a writer and a professional wrestler.-...
at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
. After one year at Yale, he replaced the retiring Lew Hayman
Lew Hayman
Lewis Edward "Lew" Hayman was an American sports figure. He was one of the driving forces behind the Canadian Football League as coach, general manager, team president, and league president. As head coach, he was a five-time Grey Cup winner with three different teams...
as the second head coach of the CFL
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....
's Montreal Alouettes. There he had a 59-48-1 record in eight seasons and won four division titles before retiring after 1959 season
1959 CFL season
The 1959 CFL season was the sixth season in modern Canadian professional football, although officially it was the second season of the Canadian Football League.-Final regular season standings:...
. After his retirement he became a scout for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was elected into the Wake Forest Athletics Hall of Fame after his death in 1971.
One of Walker's longtime friends was Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer
Arnold Daniel Palmer is an American professional golfer, who is generally regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of men's professional golf. He has won numerous events on both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, dating back to 1955...
, who Walker tried to recruit to his football team while Palmer was at Wake Forest.