VALDOSTA, GA – Valdosta State Linebacker Coach Bubba Walker has been promoted to fill the open posiiton of defensive coordinator for the Blazer football team according to an announcement made by VSU Head Coach David Dean Thursday.
Walker takes over the defensive coordinator position after serving on the Blazer coaching staff in each of the last five years. He joined the program in 2010 as a graduate assistant coach and worked with the defensive line, specifically with the defensive ends. His presence was immediately felt as the Blazer defensive ends tallied 32 more tackles and doubled their sacks and tackles for loss totals from the year prior to his arrival.
Walker was promoted to a full-time assistant in 2011 and assumed the role of linebacker coach. A pair of Valdosta State linebackers, Chris Pope and Ryan Smith, were named to the All-Gulf South Conference squad in Walker’s first year coaching the position while his charges accounted for four of the top six tacklers on the team. Pope went on to earn All-America honors in 2012 and joined Jeremy Grable on the All-GSC squad while both were named to the GSC’s top team in 2013, a season that saw Pope become the school’s all-time leader in career tackles.
“I’m happy to name Bubba as our new defensive coordinator,” said Dean in making the announcement. “It was a natural progression in his career here at Valdosta State to to assume this duty as the leader of our defense.
“Having already gone through Spring practice, it was important to our team to fill the position that would keep the same terminology and philosophy as we prepare for the new season,” he continued. “Our players know and respect Coach Walker. They know how hard he works and how detailed he is in his preparations. It was just a natural fit for us for Bubba to take over the offense and continue the tradition of the Black Swarm.”
With Walker’s promotion to defensive coordinator, Valdosta State begins a search for a secondary coach, a position Dean expects to fill in the coming weeks.
Source: Valdosta State University Athletics
