April 24, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern University Director of Athletics Mark Murphy has announced that the University has extended the contract of Head Football Coach Randy Walker through the 2011 season.
Walker, who joined the Wildcats in 1999 after a successful nine-year tenure at Miami (Ohio) University, was previously signed through the 2007 campaign. He earned an initial extension after leading the 'Cats to a share of the 2000 Big Ten championship.
"I'm really pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with Randy on a contract extension," said Murphy. "I have tremendous respect for the way he runs the program.
"We've enjoyed great success in recent years. Just as significantly, we've seen this improvement while continuing to be one of the nation's leaders in football student-athlete graduation rate and winning the AFCA Academic Achievement Award three of the past four years."
Walker, who has moved into second place on Northwestern's all-time wins list (37) and ranks 27th on the NCAA's list for wins among active coaches (96-81-5) who have at least five years of Division I-A coaching experience, has achieved a number of firsts in his seven-year tenure with the Wildcats.
He is the first NU mentor to guide three different teams to the postseason. In addition he is the first Northwestern coach to direct three straight teams to four or more Big Ten wins. Walker is also the first coach in over a century to record four six-or-more win seasons since C.M. Hollister (1899-02) accomplished the feat.
"I'm pleased in my time at Northwestern that I've had the support and trust of President Bienen and the leadership of this institution," said Walker. "I respect the mission and direction of Northwestern and greatly admire and respect the decision-makers here.
"I value their direction and support and feel we've taken the steps that are necessary to be competitive in the Big Ten Conference on a regular basis. I'm thankful for the opportunity given to me by President Bienen and Mark Murphy, and will continue to work hard to give the entire Northwestern community a program in which they can take pride."
Northwestern is coming off a 7-5 season that included a trip to the Vitalis Sun Bowl. It was the Wildcats' second bowl game in three years and their third since 2000.
Northwestern is returning 18 starters from last year's squad in 2006.