Matt Walker Hired as Drake's Head Football Coach

Bulldogs to be guided by 2025 NCAA Division III National Championship winner

DES MOINES, Iowa – Matt Walker, a national championship head coach, two-time NCAA Division III national coach of the year, and architect of one of the most explosive offenses in college football, was named head football coach at Drake University, Athletics Director Brian Hardin announced February 22.

Walker makes the jump to the FCS ranks after 15 seasons in the same role at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He capped his Falcon tenure with the ultimate result, leading UWRF to the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2025. Walker guided the Falcons to a program record 14 wins, their first national playoff berth since 1996, and the first national title in school history.

2025 also marked UW-River Falls' first outright Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship since 1985. Following the 2025 season, Walker was named D3football.com Coach of the Year and the WIAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. In 2021, Walker also earned WIAC Coach of the Year honors and was named Hansen Rating National Coach of the Year following a nine-win campaign.

"We are thrilled to welcome Matt Walker and his family to Drake and Des Moines," Hardin said. "Matt inherited a program routinely at the bottom of its conference and turned it into one of the best programs in the country. His identification and development of young men will serve him well at Drake and I look forward to the heights he will guide our team."

Since 2021, Walker has posted an overall record of 44-13 including back-to-back Isthmus Bowl (NCAA Division III postseason bowl game) titles, and routinely had the Falcons ranked among national offensive leaders.

In each of the last five seasons, Walker's teams led the WIAC in total offense and scoring offense. Three times since 2021, the Falcons ranked in the top-four of Division III in total offense and in the last five seasons, Walker's teams averaged 42.4 points per game.

Walker coached over 140 players to All-WIAC status, 13 All-Region honorees, six All-Americans, and the 2025 Gagliardi Trophy winner Kaleb Blaha, who was recognized as the most outstanding player in all of Division III football this past season. Five Falcons also earned the WIAC's most prestigious student-athlete achievement, the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award, under Walker's tutelage.

"I am extremely honored and feel blessed to be given the opportunity to become a part of the Drake Family," Walker said. "I want to thank Athletics Director Brian Hardin, and Senior Associate Athletics Director Jay Brummel for their hard work and belief in me to guide this program. I look forward to building upon the amazing tradition of Drake Football and Bulldog Athletics. My family and I are excited to get to know everyone and get to work. My heart goes out to these players [here at Drake] having to go through another coaching change. It's not the journey anyone signs up for but I'm determined to make this transition smooth for them, get to know them, roll up our sleeves together and get on a mission to win another conference title."

Prior to UWRF, Walker served as an offensive assistant in 2010 at Pioneer Football League rival Butler University, where he coached the Bulldogs' tight ends.

His prior stop was back at the Division III level at DePauw University in Indiana. While with the Tigers, Matt coached running backs and wide receivers from 2000-05 before being elevated to head coach from 2006-09. In his three seasons as head coach at DePauw, Walker led the Tigers to a 22-8 record.

Walker's DePauw tenure was not limited to the gridiron, though, as he also served as the Tigers' head baseball coach from 2001-09. On the diamond, he led his squads to five divisional championships and an NCAA regional berth in 2001. He was one of the youngest coaches in college baseball history to reach 250 wins.

Walker earned his bachelor's degree in Sports Science from DePauw in 1999, then proceeded to earn his master's in physical education from Indiana State in 2001 where he collected Phi Kappa Phi academic status.

"I also want to thank the town of River Falls, Wisconsin, the UWRF athletic department, and the Falcons' current players and staff," Walker added. "There will always be a piece of my heart there and I cannot wait to be their biggest fan under the leadership of Jake Wissing, who was with me all 15 years. He will do amazing things and I cannot wait to follow them on their quest for another national title."

Matt and his wife, Jana, have two daughters, Kraly and Hudson, and two sons, Townsend and Sullivan.

Drake will host an introductory press conference marking Walker's official welcome on Sunday, March 1 in the Paul Morrison Room. Walker's availability will start at 12:30 pm and then will be introduced to Bulldog fans at the Drake men's basketball game that afternoon.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT MATT WALKER

"We are thrilled for Matt and his family. I've known Matt for 30 years and he's always been a competitor, an innovator, and a great leader. What struck me in visiting him this year at River Falls was not their offense, their defense, or the talent they assembled – but more the genuine love in the room between players, coaches, and staff. Matt created an incredible culture – built on respect, hard work, fearlessness, love of the game, and being a great teammate. In my opinion, he's unlocked what it takes to win – and I know he's excited to lead the Bulldog football program." -- Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations

"I had the unique privilege of being Matt Walker's teammate and playing under him as a coach, and I can tell you – nobody is surprised he's a national champion. Even in college, it was obvious he was destined to be a great football coach; his football IQ, relentless work ethic, and ability to connect with and lead people set him apart from everyone else in the room. Any program that gets Matt Walker as their head coach is getting an absolute difference-maker." -- Joe Schoen, New York Giants General Manager

"Unfortunately, over the last 24 hours I've been reeling from the death of one of my most prominent players, Rondale Moore, and in this moment receiving this message, it is simply a reminder of how important it is for coaches to continue to stay connected with their players. Matt Walker is someone who has remained in touch with me over the last 24 years in the longevity of our relationship proves that coaching is so much more than growing up X's and O's for the sake of the transactional nature of the game. It is about the transformational experience you receive when a coach loves you. Coach Walker is someone who is always loved by his players and because of this, his players will run through a brick wall for him. Expect nothing but greatness and a new standard at Drake University because of your new head football coach Matt Walker." -- JaMarcus Shephard, Oregon State University head football coach

"Congratulations to Matt Walker on accepting the head coaching job at Drake University. Matt has done an exceptional job over his career in building back UW-River Falls football program and leading them to the Division III national championship this season. He is a proven leader and role model for the next chapter of Bulldog Football." -- Lance Leipold, University of Kansas head football coach

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