Las Cruces, N.M. – NMSU Athletics Director McKinley Boston announced Tuesday that the university has hired DeWayne Walker as the school’s 33rd head football coach.

"This is a great opportunity for myself and my family," Walker said. "As long as I have coached you always want to see your vision and formula put to work and I’m thankful and grateful to New Mexico State University for giving me this opportunity to put together a good staff and begin to flip this program around."

"I would like to thank Chair Danny Villanueva and the members of the search advisory committee for their support and efforts during this very arduous process," Boston said. "The process has yielded a coach that has paid his dues and has worked for and has been mentored by great and successful professional and college coaches. When I started the process I stated I wanted someone with "fire in the belly and excited for this opportunity". DeWayne Walker is excited and has fire in the belly. His coaching pedigree and experience speaks for itself. He is well connected and has successfully recruited California and Texas which we all agree is a critical need for a successful program at NMSU. Coach Walker also understands and is committed to an effort to keep the best New Mexico players at home. While all of that is important, DeWayne understands the student in athlete and will recruit with that in mind. DeWayne and his wife Zan are excited about becoming active members in the Las Cruces community and he will be visible and accessible and supportive in our outreach efforts locally, statewide and nationally."

"We are delighted to welcome Coach DeWayne Walker to NMSU," NMSU Interim President Waded Cruzado said. "There is excitement in the air and the conviction that an appointment of this caliber will complement our quest for excellence in everything we do. Coach Walker will mark an era of new beginnings at NMSU, just in time to celebrate the new year."

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.

In 2008, Walker guided the Bruin defense to a 48th ranking in the nation in total defense, allowing 337 yards a game. UCLA’s passing defense was atop the nation’s leaders ranking 11th overall and second in the Pac-10, holding their opponents to just 167.6 yards per game through the air.

In 2007, the Bruin defense once again found itself listed among the national leaders in several categories. UCLA ranked 14th in rushing defense (109.2 yards per game), 29th in total defense (343.23 yards), 29th in scoring defense (22.3 points), and 32nd in pass efficiency defense (115.26). The Bruins also ranked second nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.77), third in third down conversion defense (29.1%), tied for 15th in sacks per game average (3.0) and tied for 17th in fumbles caused (14). Defensive backs Trey Brown (tied for first, 1.77/g) and Alterraun Verner (tied for 11th, 1.46/g) ranked among the nation’s best in the passes defensed category, while defensive end Bruce Davis ranked tied for ninth in the nation in sacks per game (.92).

In 2006, the Bruins were among the national leaders in rushing defense (tied for ninth in the NCAA and tied for first in the Pac-10 with 91.08 yards per game) and total defense (33rd nationally at 304.83) and allowed almost half as many touchdowns (27) as the previous year (48). UCLA allowed 91.1 yards per game, 2.83 yards per rush and just nine touchdowns on the ground, the first time since 1985 that the Bruins had allowed fewer yards per game on the ground. The Bruin defense also ranked fifth nationally in third-down conversion defense (28.4%, 50 of 176). Walker joined the Bruins from the Washington Redskins, where he had coached the secondary, specifically the cornerbacks, the previous two seasons (2004-05) under head coach Joe Gibbs and highly-respected defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. In 2005, the Washington Redskins won 10 of 16 regular-season games, including their final five straight, to earn a wild-card berth in the playoffs. Washington defeated Tampa Bay in Florida, before dropping a 20-10 decision to the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks on the road.

The Washington Redskins ranked No. 1 among the NFL’s 32 teams in lowest opponent passing percentage (54.4%). In addition, they also ranked second (tied) in fewest touchdown passes allowed (15), 10th in pass defense (192.6 yards) and 14th (tied) in interceptions (16). Walker played a key role in the development of rookie cornerback Carlos Rogers and the continued fine play of Shawn Springs. In 2004, his first year in Washington, Springs became the first cornerback in NFL history to lead his team in sacks (five) and interceptions (six) in the same season and finished the year with 69 tackles. He also tutored veterans Walt Harris and Fred Smoot in that first year.

Walker spent the previous two seasons (2002-03) as secondary coach of the New York Giants under coordinator Johnnie Lynn, a former Bruin. Prior to joining the Giants, Walker spent the 2001 season as associate head coach/secondary coach at USC under Pete Carroll and was the first staff member hired by Carroll. That season, the Trojans ranked seventh nationally with 19 interceptions and also ranked 16th nationally in pass defense (179.2 yards) and 16th (tied) in fewest touchdown passes allowed (11).

He also served as secondary coach of the New England Patriots for three seasons, the first two (1998 and 1999) under Carroll and the third (2000) under Bill Belichick. During his tenure with the Patriots, defensive backs Ty Law and Lawyer Milloy each earned trips to the Pro Bowl. Walker began his coaching career at Mt. San Antonio College (1988-92), serving as secondary coach for four seasons before becoming defensive coordinator in 1992. He then gained valuable experience by coaching at Utah State (1993), BYU (1994), Oklahoma State (1995) and California (1996-1997) before moving to the Patriots. At Cal, he tutored future NFL performers Kato Serwanga and Marquis Smith.

He also participated in the NFL’s minority coaching internship program, working with the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 and the Patriots in 1997. A former cornerback himself, Walker played three seasons professionally – one in the CFL (Edmonton Eskimos in 1982) and two in the USFL (Oakland Invaders in 1984 and Arizona Outlaws in 1985). In college, he was a two-year starter at Minnesota (1980-81) after playing at Pasadena City College for two years. Walker received his Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Regents College in Albany, NY, in 1992. Walker and his wife, Zan, have two daughters (Kesha and Kendra) and one son (Kevan).

What They are Saying About DeWayne Walker

"New Mexico State University is very fortunate to hire a coach of DeWayne’s caliber. DeWayne has been a terrific asset to UCLA, both on and off the field, and he will be missed. I have no doubt he will be successful at New Mexico State. I, and the entire UCLA family, thank him for what he has done for our program and wish him well." - Rick Neuheisel, UCLA Head Coach

"DeWayne is a great coach who has proven that at many levels. He has all of the skills to be a highly-successful head coach. He knows the landscape of the college football world really well. And he’ll build his team around a great defense, setting the foundation for his program." - Pete Carroll, USC Head Coach

"DeWayne Walker is a very bright, young coach who has an outstanding future. DeWayne has done a good job in his NFL career and during his tenure at UCLA. I fully expect he would be an outstanding addition to the New Mexico State program." - Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts Head Coach

"I’m very proud of coach Walker and excited for him that he got the job. The experience under him was so great because of how informative he was. He has also played the game so players are able to relate to him. I know that he helped me grow as a player and I can remember how he was always on me. Plus, he was always there as a friend. He should be a good fit for the team because he will be able to relate to his players just because he’s been on the field as a player himself. I know he will touch the student-athletes and will aspire them and motivate them to move forward to the next level." - Ty Law, Defensive Back New York Jets

The Walker File

Coaching Experience
UCLA (2006-2008), Defensive Coordinator
Washington Redskins (2004-05), Defensive Backs
New York Giants (2002-03), Defensive Backs
Southern California (2001), Defensive Backs
New England Patriots (1998-2000), Defensive Backs
California (1996-1997), Defensive Backs
NFL’s Minority Coaching Internship Program
New England Patriots (1997)
San Francisco 49ers (1996)
Oklahoma State (1995)
BYU (1994)
Utah State (1993)
Mt. San Antonio College (1988-1992), Defensive Backs (1988-91), Defensive Coordinator (1992)

Playing Experience
Arizona Outlaws (1985)
Oakland Invaders (1984)
Edmonton Eskimos (1982)
University of Minnesota (1980-81)
Pasadena City College (1978-79)
 
Bowl Experience
2007 - Las Vegas Bowl (UCLA)
2006 - Emerald Bowl (UCLA)
2001 - Las Vegas Bowl (USC)
1996 - Aloha Bowl (Cal)
1994 - Copper Bowl (BYU)
1993 - Las Vegas Bowl (Utah State)