David Walker
Year at Syracuse: 10
College: Syracuse, 1993
High School: Irondequoit (N.Y.) HS
Born: December 4, 1969, Rochester, N.Y.
David Walker spent 10 years on the SU sideline. A two-time All-BIG EAST selection for the Orange, Walker earned his degree in physical education in 1993. Walker led the Orange to the 1993 Fiesta Bowl title as a senior team captain. Walker, the fifth-leading rusher in SU history, has coached three of the school’s top seven rushers.
Running With The Best
In 2003, Walker mentored Walter Reyes in his second consecutive 1,000-yard season, which marked an SU-record fourth straight year a tailback under Walker’s tutelage gained more than 1,000 yards. From 1965 to 1967 SU had 1,000-yard seasons from Floyd Little (‘65) and Larry Csonka (‘66, ‘67). Reyes’ 1,347 yards was the second-best single-season total in SU history. His 21 touchdowns is an SU record.
In 2002 Walker mentored Reyes and Damien Rhodes, who became the second-most productive tailback tandem in SU history, gaining 1,703 yards. Reyes gained 1,135 yards in 2002, becoming the seventh player in SU history to gain more than 1,000 yards in a season.
The best pair of running backs was Walker’s combo of Dee Brown and James Mungro (1,828 yards) in 2000. The rushing total by Brown and Mungro was the third-highest total ever for a pair of SU ball carriers. Mungro finished his Orange career with 2,869 yards, the third highest rushing total in Syracuse football history. Mungro was named the 2001 Insight.com Bowl MVP after his three-touchdown performance in SU’s victory. He gained 112 yards on 19 carries against Kansas State in the bowl game. In 2000, Brown became SU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since 1989, and Mungro established a BIG EAST record for average yards per carry with a mark of 6.93.
Walker’s teaching paid off for Mungro at the end of the 1999 season, as Mungro rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns in SU’s victory against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Mungro earned the game’s Most Valuable Player Award. The end of the 1998 campaign marked the graduation of two outstanding backs coached by Walker – fullback Rob Konrad, currently the starting fullback for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, and tailback Kyle McIntosh.
The Rookie Season
During Walker’s first season on the Orange sidelines in 1995, a young group of running backs provided SU with an outstanding backfield. In 1996 the Orange continued to improve. In 1997, SU running backs produced 100-yard games on five occasions.
A former standout running back at SU, Walker spent 1994 as an assistant coach at Carol City High School in Miami before making his successful return to Syracuse. Walker worked with the Miami office of the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services following his graduation.
The Walker Family
He and his wife, Marilin, reside in Syracuse with their sons, Jalen and Jordan.
Walker's Coaching History
Carol City High School - Assistant Coach (1994-95)
Syracuse University - Running Backs (1995-04)
Walker's Success Stories
Bowl Games
1988 Hall of Fame; 1989 Peach, 1990 Aloha, 1992 Hall of Fame and 1993 Fiesta (as a player); 1996 Gator, 1996 Liberty, 1998 Fiesta, 1999 Orange, 1999 Music City, 2001 Insight.com (as a coach)
Championship Teams
1996, 1997, 1998 BIG EAST Championships (Syracuse)
Players In The Pros
Dee Brown, Chris Davis, Rob Konrad, James Mungro, Malcolm Thomas, Kyle Johnson
