Southern Illinois Combines Programs Under Walker

After thirteen years, Southern Illinois has decided to once again combine the men’s & women’s swimming programs. The new combined program will be under the guidance of Rick Walker effective immediately. Walker, formerly the men’s swimming and diving head coach from 1992-2004, will now serve as the head coach of the combined men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, following the move of women’s head coach Jeff Goelz to Aquatics Director at the SIU Rec Center.

“We were sorry to see Jeff Goelz leave because he did a tremendous job for us, but his departure provided us this opportunity to move Rick Walker into the head position of both programs. There’s not a finer coach on our staff than Rick, personally and professionally. He’s a quality individual, has great ethics, morals and communication skills and we’re very pleased that he will lead both programs,” said Paul Kowalczyk, SIU athletics director.

There are always benefits when you have a consolidation of staff as well as financially when you merge programs. In the end, I think it will really benefit our program and you’ll see continued success with this program. We have a tradition of an outstanding program and Rick’s been a real key to maintaining and growing that tradition. We’re excited for the future and have a lot to look forward to under his leadership.”

Walker will begin his 18th year at SIU overall and his first year as the combined coach for the 2004-05 season. The programs were first combined in 1987, when Walker arrived as an assistant, and then separated for the 1992-93 season, his first year as the men’s head coach.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. When I started coaching at Texas A&M (1985) and during my first five years here (1987-92), we were in a combined program. It was separated my first year as a head coach here (1992-93) and it’s good to have them back together. I think together we will be stronger and accomplish some additional things for the program,” Walker added. I’m so excited and I can’t wait to work with all the kids. It will be a challenge to make sure everyone feels like they have my attention, but we’ll get that done. I think the two teams can also help each other. I love to coach and now I get to coach more kids. Jeff (Goelz) and Chris (Gally) did a tremendous job with the women’s program and we can’t wait to see what we can do in the future.”

Walker has been very successful at SIU, leading the Salukis to six of the nine MVC titles and earning four coach-of-the year honors after the MVC revived its championship in 1994. His teams have CSCAA Academic All-American Team honors in each of his 12 years and 20 of the his 24 semesters, which included a 3.0 team GPA or better 17 times.

Prior to serving as head coach, Walker was an SIU assistant from 1987-92 under former head coach and SIU Hall of Famer Doug Ingram. Before coming to SIU, Walker coached for the Joliet Jets(1984-85), Texas A&M and the Aggie Swim club (1985-86) and the Dad's Club YMCA of Houston (1986-87).

Walker’s staff will consist of the existing coaches, including diving coach Chunhua Zhao and assistants Gustavo Leal and Chris Gally.