Bill Walker begins his eighth year as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota and his ninth season with head coach Dan Monson. The two were reunited after spending a season together on the Alabama-Birmingham staff in 1987-88.

A new force on the national recruiting scene, Walker was responsible for recruiting 2005 First Team All-Big Ten performer Vincent Grier and the Gopher 2001 recruiting class which included 2002 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Rick Rickert. That class was ranked as one of the top 10 in the nation by many publications.

Walker came to the Golden Gophers after spending three seasons as the top assistant coach at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo. When Walker arrived at Central Missouri State in 1996, the Mules had only three scholarship players available. During his tenure, his teams posted a record of 51-33, including a mark of 21-6 in 1996-97. Walker was responsible for recruiting Antonio Rivers, a Division III All-American, who had a long career playing professionally in Europe.

Prior to his stint at Central Missouri State, Walker was an assistant at the University of Missouri at St. Louis for eight years. The 1991-92 squad was the winningest team in school history, setting a school record for wins with a mark of 22-6. He signed a player that was named to the all-freshman team for five seasons including two that were named Freshmen of the Year.

Walker spent two years before his tenure at Missouri-St. Louis as an assistant at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he and Monson first crossed paths. Monson was also an assistant coach under Gene Bartow (1987-89), where their 1988-89 squad finished third in the NIT Tournament.

Walker began his playing career at Warrensburg High School in Warrensburg, Mo., where he was a three-year starter for the Tigers and helped lead them to a 73-6 record during that time period. He was named first team all-state as a senior. He played one season at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo., then transferred to Missouri-Rolla where he played for three seasons under head coach Billy Key. He earned All-MIAA honorable mention honors as both a junior and senior.

Walker owns a bachelor’s degree in history from Missouri-Rolla and a master’s degree in education from Alabama-Birmingham. His sister Barbara is the associate athletics director at Wake Forest and his father Floyd was the athletics director at Central Missouri State University.

Walker and his wife, Karen, have a son, Vincent (10) and a daughter, Claire (9).

Born:
December 29, 1964

Hometown:
Warrensburg, Mo.

High School:
Warrensburg (Mo.)

College:
University of Missouri-Rolla (BA)
University of Alabama-Birmingham (MA)

Athletics:
1983-84 State Fair Community College
1984-87 University of Missouri-Rolla

College Coaching Experience:
1987-89 Alabama-Birmingham (assistant)
1989-96 University Missouri-St. Louis (assistant)
1996-99 Central Missouri State (assistant)
1999- Minnesota (assistant)

Personal:
Wife: Karen
Son: Vincent (10)
Daughter: Claire (9)