Head coach Jedd Fisch announced the hiring of veteran NFL and college coach DeWayne Walker as the Wildcats newest member of the Wildcats defensive coaching staff on January 6, 2021. Walker, who coaches defensive backs at Arizona, enters his second season in 2022.
Walker joined the program with nearly 20 years of college experience in a variety of key coaching positions, including six seasons coaching in the Pac-12.
During his first season in Tucson, Walker's defensive backs limited opposing offenses to just 190 passing yards per game, a mark that ranked second in the Pac-12 and 15th nationally. Four times in 2021 the Wildcats held opposing teams under 100 yards through the air.
Walker also played a key role in building Arizona's 2022 signing class that ranked second in the Pac-12 (22nd nationally) and included the first five-star signee in program history.
A former head coach at New Mexico State, Walker's elite coaching experience also includes three seasons as UCLA's defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008 and also served as interim head coach. Walker arrives in Tucson with a wealth of NFL experience in addition to his two decades at the collegiate level. The Los Angeles native spent 14 NFL seasons coaching defensive backs with the Patriots, Giants, Jaguars, Browns and the Washington Football Team.
Most recently, Walker has served NFL defensive backs for seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-16) and Cleveland Browns (2017-19). During that stretch, Walker's defensive backs ranked among the NFL's top 10 units in passing yards allowed twice and were top 10 in interceptions twice.
In between a pair of extended NFL stints, Walker logged four seasons as the head coach at New Mexico State (2009-12) and served as defensive coordinator at UCLA from 2006 to 2008. He was selected as UCLA's interim head coach at the conclusion of the 2007 season and coached the team in their Las Vegas Bowl matchup against BYU.
Walker's tenure as defensive coordinator at UCLA was a resounding success. His 2008 squad ranked 11
th in the nation and second in the Pac-10, allowing just 167.6 passing yards per game. The Bruins 2007 defense ranked among the nation's top 30 units in rushing defense (14
th), total defense (29
th), scoring defense (29
th), tackles for loss (2
nd), third down conversion rate (3
rd), and sacks per game (15
th). The trend in stiff defense at UCLA began in Walker's first season in 2006, during which they ranked ninth nationally in rushing defense and fifth in third down conversion rate.
He has also spent time coaching defensive backs for the Washington Football Team (2004-05), New York Giants (2002-03), USC Trojans (2001), New England Patriots (1998-2000), and California Golden Bears (1996-97). Walker spent two years in the NFL's Minority Coaching Internship program while at California, learning from the staffs of the Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.
Walker's coaching career began as the defensive backs coach, and eventually defensive coordinator, at Mt. San Antonio Community College in California from 1988 to 1992. He then made stops at Utah State (1993), BYU (1994), and Oklahoma State (1995) where he earned his first defensive coordinator role.
Los Angeles native Walker earned his degree in Liberal Arts from Regents College in 1992. His collegiate playing career saw stops at Pasadena City College and Minnesota. Walker played three professional seasons across the CFL and USFL before entering the coaching ranks.
Walker and his wife, Zan, have two daughters, Kesha and Kendra, and one son, Kevan.
DeWAYNE WALKER COACHING HISTORY
Arizona – Defensive Backs (2021-current)
Cleveland Browns – Defensive Backs (2017-19)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Defensive Backs (2013-16)
New Mexico State – Head Coach (2009-12)
UCLA – Defensive Coordinator (2006-08)
Washington Football Team– Defensive Backs (2004-05)
New York Giants – Defensive Backs (2002-03)
USC – Defensive Backs (2001)
New England Patriots – Defensive Backs (1998-2000)
California – Defensive Backs (1996-97)
NFL's Minority Coaching Internship Program
- New England Patriots (1997)
- San Francisco 49ers (1996)
Oklahoma State – Defensive Coordinator (1995)
BYU – Cornerbacks (1994)
Utah State – Assistant Coach (1993)
Mt. San Antonio Community College – Defensive Coordinator (1992)
Mt. San Antonio Community College – Defensive Backs (1988-91)
