MU football assistant retires from coaching
Mizzou football assistant Bruce Walker will retire from coaching, the school announced Tuesday. Walker, who was co-offensive line coach this past season, also served as tight ends coach from 2001-2008.
In that time as tight ends coach, he tutored star Missouri tight ends such as Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker and Michael Egnew. This past season, Walker helped develop the offensive line that guided the Tigers to a 12-2 season and a Cotton Bowl victory. He also coached Justin Britt, who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2014 NFL draft.
Walker, 53, came to MU from Toledo with Gary Pinkel in 2001. He also coached with Pinkel for the Rockets from 1996-2000.
Statement from Bruce Walker via MUTIGERS.com
“In this business everybody has a time when they need to hang it up, and it’s my time. I’m very proud to have been a part of 102 wins here and all that we’ve achieved, and I’m proud of the legacy I leave behind with all the players I’ve touched over a 26-year career. Mizzou has been a special place for me, I’ve loved my time here and I’ll always be Tiger. I’ve had a great run and now it’s time to go be with my family and do other things. Coaches don’t often get to go out on their own terms, so I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to do it my way.”
Statement from Mizzou football coach Gary Pinkel via MUTIGERS.com
“”Bruce informed me last night that he feels the time is right for him to step away from coaching. Bruce has been a very important part of our success here at Mizzou, and I’m very grateful to him and his family for all of the sacrifices they have made to help our program succeed. We’re going to miss him, no question, and we wish him nothing but the best. Exactly what steps we take here to fill this spot, it’s too soon to know, but we’ll get to work on that right away.”
