Drake University Athletic Director Brian Hardin announced Feb. 22 that Matt Walker, a two-time NCAA Division III national coach of the year, is the Drake football program’s new head coach.
“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,” Walker said to Drake Athletics.
Walker comes to Drake after leaving his position as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls football team. He coached for 15 seasons, during which the team won the NCAA DIII National Championship for the 2025 season. Walker led his team to its only national title in school history and 14 program wins, which became a program record.
“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.”
Walker, the 2021 Hansen Rating National Coach of the Year and two-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year, has held a 44-13 overall record since 2021.
In his acceptance statement, Walker touched on what it means to be a Bulldog and how the opportunity will impact him. He also acknowledged the coaching change coming abruptly when Joe Woodley resigned earlier in the month to fill a defensive position on the Rutgers University football coaching staff.
“My heart goes out to these players [here at Drake] having to go through another coaching change,” Walker said. “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.”
Drake will host a press conference marking Walker’s official welcome to the Bulldog community at 12:30 p.m. March 1 in the Knapp Center’s Paul Morrison Room.
