Northwestern coach Randy Walker dies

[SoCalBronco]

breaking news......wow. He was very young, never expected that.

RIP Run N Gun Randy. :(

[Florida_Bronco]

Condolences to his family and friends, and may the Lord be with him.

[DomCasual]

What the heck happened to him?

[Pezman]

RIP to a good coach. Man, terrible news. He was only 52

[Pezman]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2505033

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern football coach Randy Walker died Thursday night of an apparent heart attack, the school announced early Friday. He was 52.

Walker, who joined the Wildcats in 1999 after nine years at Miami (Ohio), guided the team to a 7-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl this past season. He became the first coach in school history since C.M. Hollister (1899-1902) to register four seasons of at least six wins.

"Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Tammy, and his two children, Abbey and Jamie," Northwestern director of athletics Mark Murphy said in a press release. "This is a devastating loss, not only for our athletic program, but for the entire Northwestern community. Randy truly embraced Northwestern and its mission, and cared deeply for his student-athletes, both on and off the field."

The university will conduct a news conference Friday at 10 a.m. ET.

A native of Troy, Ohio, Walker left Miami as the winningest coach in school history, posting a 59-35-5 mark with the RedHawks. He graduated from the university in 1976.

With Northwestern, Walker compiled a 37-46 overall record and led the team to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Alamo Bowl in 2000. The first coach in school history to guide the team to three bowl games, Walker also helped earn the Wildcats a spot in the 2003 Motor City Bowl.

Walker, who received a contract extension through 2011 in April, ranks 27th on the NCAA's all-time wins list (96) for active Division I-A coaches with at least five years of experience.

Less than two years ago, Walker was hospitalized with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle commonly caused by a virus.

[DomCasual]

Man, that sucks. RIP, Randy Walker.

On a related/unrelated note, Lamar Odom's infant child died today - worst experience I can imagine in a person's life.

[24champ]

On a related/unrelated note, Lamar Odom's infant child died today - worst experience I can imagine in a person's life.
yeah whats even sadder is he just got back from his aunts funeral...RIP JAYDEN ODOM AND RANDY WALKER.

[NOLA Bronco]

This is terrible news. I believe he had some heart issues before, but they thought it was taken care of.

[TexanBob]

Northwestern athletics sure has had it's share of untimely deaths in recent years. There was the basketball coach that was shot by the white supremicist then the football player who died during workouts from overheating.

When it's your time, it's time. Nobody gets to negotiate that.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Really a shame - he was an excellent coach and from what I have heard, a good human being. RIP.

[NaptownChief]

Really a shame - he was an excellent coach and from what I have heard, a good human being. RIP.


Definitely a tough year for the Coaching Cradle....Coach Hep got a brain tumor and now this for Walker...Thankfully it looks like Coach Hep is recovering well but this will be tough on him as he and Randy were very close. Best wishes to his friends and family...52 is way too young and looking younger every day.