Creighton hires Jimmy Walker from Bowling Green State as new head coach

(Photo Credit: BGSU Athletics)

OMAHA, Neb. – Jimmy Walker has been named the sixth head coach in Creighton Women’s Soccer history, McCormick Endowed Athletics Director Marcus Blossom announced.

Walker has led Bowling Green State to a pair of Mid-American Conference titles in the past four years, going 36-19-11 with the Falcons.

“I’m excited to welcome Coach Walker as our head women’s soccer coach,” said Blossom. “Jimmy is a passionate leader, purposeful developer and tireless recruiter that has earned success at many levels. I look forward to supporting him, his staff and our student-athletes as they compete for BIG EAST championships.”

“It’s a really exciting opportunity that I’m looking forward to diving into,” said Walker. “I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the administration from Creighton. Marcus has been great to deal with. I really enjoyed our interactions, and I love the vision he has for Creighton Athletics.”

Walker owns a 176-95-26 record in 16 seasons as a head coach, which includes stops at Tiffin (1997-2002), Duquesne (2003-06), Findlay (2018-19) and Bowling Green State (2020-23). He is a seven-time Conference Coach of the Year, a three-time Regional Coach of the Year, and in 2000 while at Tiffin was the runner-up for the BRINE National Coach of the Year award.

He also served for two seasons as the recruiting coordinator and top assistant for the men’s soccer program at Penn State (2007-08), and was the Executive Director of Coaching at Pacesetter Soccer Club from 2011-18. Pacesetter were partners with Aston Villa Football Club of the EPL.

The native of Birmingham, England, has won 15 conference regular-season or tournament titles in addition to making eight national tournament appearances. His teams are also a regular on the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award list, including a 3.74 GPA in 2022-23 while at BGSU.

His teams have advanced to a postseason tournament and earned national or regional rankings at each college program he’s coached at. Walker’s team won the BG Athletics Services to the Community Award in 2023, as well as a proclamation from the Mayor of Bowling Green for services to the community.

Walker’s 2020 Bowling Green State team shared the NCAA lead in shutout percentage (.750) and closed the regular-season ranked No. 29 in the RPI. His 2021 club won the MAC regular-season and tournament titles, were ranked No. 4 in the final Midwest Region poll, and was the first in program history to receive Top 25 votes.

His final team at Findlay in 2019 became the first in program history to make the NCAA Tournament. The Oilers were ranked in the Top 25 nationally, and Walker was named the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.

His tenure at Duquesne was highlighted by a 10-6-1 record in 2005 and the program’s first A-10 Tournament appearance.  The 10 victories and .618 win percentage were a school-record at the time.

His first head coaching job came at Tiffin, where his team won four American Mideast Conference titles and went 45-2-1 in league play during his tenure. The Dragons reached the program’s first Sweet 16, and was the top-ranked team in the Region at one point. Walker was named AMC Coach of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

“When the Creighton job came open, with the soccer tradition, the facilities, the resources and one of the best conferences in the country, it’s a really good opportunity for me and my family to take in the next step in my coaching journey,” noted Walker. “I can’t wait to get to work with the players, and I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

Walker earned a pair of degrees from Tiffin University, picking up his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management & Business in 1997 and later earning his Master’s degree in Business Administration in 2000. He also has his UEFA B License and earned his United Soccer Coaches Premier Coaching Diploma in 2013.

Following  his career, Walker played professionally with the Kalamazoo Kingdom (1996-97) and Cleveland Whitecaps (1998). He was a two-time NAIA All-American at Tiffin and earned three All-Great Lakes Region, District 22 and Mid-Ohio Conference honors over his four year career. He helped lead the Dragons to two MOC Championships and was named MOC Player of the Year in 1994. Walker was inducted into the Tiffin University Hall of Fame in 2006.

Walker played with the Academy team at Aston Villa in the English Premier League prior to coming to the United States. His father, James, played and coached professionally in England for over 25 years. His father played for Derby County, which captured two EPL championship crowns, and also coached in the English Premier League with Aston Villa for 15 years where he was the Director of Sports Science for the club.

Walker is married to the former Kerri Destatte. They have two daughters, Emma and Anna.

WALKER YEAR-BY-YEAR AS A HEAD COACH
1997     Tiffin                         7-10-4
1998     Tiffin                         16- 6-0
1999     Tiffin                         16- 4-0
2000     Tiffin                         18- 2-0
2001     Tiffin                         15- 3-1
2002     Tiffin                         12- 8-0
2003     Duquesne                    8-10-2
2004     Duquesne                    9-10-1
2005     Duquesne                   10- 6-1
2006     Duquesne                   4-10-2
2018     Findlay                       11- 4-2
2019     Findlay                       14- 3-2
2020     Bowling Green State        6- 1-1
2021     Bowling Green State        11- 7-3
2022     Bowling Green State        9- 5-5
2023     Bowling Green State        10- 6-2
Career Record   176-95-26 (16 seasons)