Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame
An unsung hero for much of his 35-year college and high school coaching career, Bob Walker joins the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame this fall.
Walker coached under two Oregon coaching legends in Linfield’s Ad Rutschman and Roseburg High School’s Thurman Bell, helping those respective programs claim multiple college and high school championships.
During the 1970s and early '80s, Walker served as assistant offensive line coach alongside fellow Hall of Fame inductee Ted Henry. He helped plot the offense throughout a dominant stretch of 12 seasons that saw the Wildcats capture two NAIA national championships and eight NWC titles. He also served as the college's wrestling coach for nine years.
Calling Walker an invaluable assistant would be an understatement. As the college struggled financially during the 1970s, and as Rutschman juggled multiple responsibilities as head football coach, head baseball coach and athletic director, Walker accepted a starting salary of $500 and graduate program tuition.
Later, he added responsibilities as football equipment manager, recruiting coordinator, residence hall supervisor and even athletic trainer to his list, while also substitute teaching around Yamhill County.
After a dozen years living frugally at Linfield, Walker moved on to a fulltime teaching and coaching position at Roseburg High School where he served on Bell's football staff for 23 years. He coached the offensive line and worked with the defensive ends. As he had done so well at Linfield, Walker was a mainstay during the most successful 10-year stretch of football success in school history. Roseburg won state titles in 1995 and 1996, was co-champion in 1990, and finished as state runner-up three straight seasons in the late 1980s.
Roseburg was blessed with a succession of talented linemen during that time, and Walker enabled each of them to reach their maximum potential.
In an interview with the Roseburg News-Review, Bell called Walker “a technician ... a great Xs and Os guy who knew the offensive line inside and out. He wasn't a rah-rah coach. He did an excellent job of working with the kids who were highly motivated.”
At both Linfield and Roseburg, Walker coached from the press box on game days, supplying Rutschman and Bell with schematic input.
Walker called the experience of working side-by-side with living legends such as Rutschman and Bell “…fantastic. Coaching was all I ever wanted to do. And they gave me the chance to do it.”
His most memorable moment as a Wildcat came during the 1984 NAIA championship game against Northwestern of Iowa. Trailing 22-0 midway through the third quarter, Linfield engineered a miraculous comeback, winning 33-22 to secure the program’s second of three national crowns in five years.
Walker, a 1974 Linfield graduate, lettered three times in football, playing alongside fellow 2019 Hall of Fame inductee Steve Pickering.
Before making his own way to Linfield as a player, Walker was a standout athlete at Grants Pass High School, graduating in 1970.
Bob and his wife, Laurie, have been married for 34 years. The Walkers reside in Roseburg and he continues to substitute teach in the area.
