By ETHAN EVERSON, Student Reporter
Some say he is the man that can do it all. He set records as an athlete and now spends his time coaching and being a father.
Matt Walter, the current head football coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University Head, has had a life that few would expect.
Walter is from a small town called Azle, Texas, just south of Fort Worth. That’s where he grew up and became the man he is today, he said.
One thing that some people may not know about Walter is that he was adopted and never knew who his real parents were.
“It was really hard to deal with because I never met them,” he said. “But it was something that was meant to be, and I’m very blessed.”
A TOUGH CALL
Walter said he has always had a passion for sports, mainly football and baseball. Going to Azle High School from 1992 to1996, he played both sports and received offers from Midwestern State University, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University to play at the collegiate level.
Walter grew up being an Eagle Scout. Attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement a Boy Scout can earn for performing community service.
“Being an Eagle Scout was an honor because I felt like it changed me to be a better man, and I get to show my kids things like hiking and building fires,” he said.
In high school, Walter was a member of the National Honor Society, which is based on four criteria: scholarship, leadership, service and character.
After high school, Walter had to decide where he would be going to play college athletics and get his degree. Walter said he knew Northwestern was the best choice.
“I felt at home when I visited, and I could make a difference when it came to football and my academics,” he said.
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
During his freshman year, Walter was red-shirted for the football team. That means he sat out a full football season without losing a year of eligibility. By his sophomore year, he still could play four years of football.
By Walter’s sophomore year, he earned the starting job as running back and never looked back, he said.
Walter was a part of the best Northwestern football team in history. In 1999, the team won the national championship with him as the running back.
After winning the national championship, Walter wanted to play baseball again. That spring, he played for the university’s baseball team and was the back-up outfielder.
During his career as a student athlete, Walter broke the rushing record with 2,548 yards.
A LONG JOURNEY IN COACHING
After attending Northwestern for five years, Walter graduated in 2001 with a bachelor of science degree and a master’s degree in education.
He was hired as a graduate assistant to coach for Northwestern. In 2001, he was the assistant strength and conditioning coach.
In 2003, he got a job offer to be the assistant strength and conditioning coach for Louisiana Tech University in 2003.
He was only there for a year because he got a head strength and conditioning coaching job for Southern Louisiana University in 2004.
In 2005, Walter took the same job as the strength coach at New Mexico State University, where he spent four years.
His life isn’t just about football, though. At the end of the day, he goes home to his two sons: Rowan, 12, and Torin, 9.
He said he spends time with his sons every chance he gets.
He takes them hiking, fishing and target shooting. He also likes to play laser tag with them.
“During football season, I don’t get to see them as much,” he said. “But when it’s off-season, I spend all the time I can and try to be a good dad and role model.”
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
In 2010, Garin Higgins, the head coach for Emporia State University, called Walter and wanted him to be the university’s head strength coach, special teams coordinator and wide receiver coach.
“I knew he [Walter] was a good coach, and I wanted him to be a part of my staff,” Higgins said.
Walter accepted the offer. He packed his bags and moved to Kansas, where he learned from Higgins.
“Coach Higgins, in my opinion, is one of the best coaches,” Walter said. “He’s taught me so many things about being a coach.”
Along the way, Walter met T.J. Andrade, who would become his best friend.
Andrade was a student assistant at Emporia the same year as Walter was hired. Andrade followed Walter to learn what it was like to coach.
“Being an 18-year-old, I was scared of doing things wrong as a coach,” Andrade said. “Matt took me into his arms and taught me what I know now, and I’m so thankful for him.”
In 2012, Higgins promoted Walter to being the offensive coordinator and offensive-line coach.
That year, Walter helped Emporia get its first 10-win season in history, and the university won the Kanza Bowl.
Walter worked hard to help the team, Andrade said.
“He [Walter] was in the office from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. every day to make sure they were ready, and it showed everyone how bad he wanted to win,” Andrade said.
During his time in Emporia, Walter met his soon-to-be defensive coordinator, Ken Gordon.
Gordon created a bond with Walter that made them close friends, he said.
Gordon and Walter worked out together every day. They talked about their families and football.
Gordon recalled his favorite memory with Walter: “He asked if I wanted to do a good workout, and of course I said ‘Yes.’ He had us pushing trucks back and forth to each other, which felt like forever, but we had such a good time doing it.”
RETURNING TO NWOSU
In 2015, Northwestern officials gave Walter a call and offered him the head coach’s job. Walter said he didn’t think twice and took the job. But he didn’t want to come to Alva alone, so he asked Andrade and Gordon to come with him.
After settling in at Alva, Walter and the coaching staff went to Costa Rica for a fishing trip.
Walter said this was the best trip he has ever taken. He caught a 600-lb. sailfish.
Walter doesn’t have much time off during football season. But during the months of April, May and June, you can expect him to be out fishing.
“I will fish anything,” he said. “I even made a trip to Colorado with my dad and went fly fishing, and made a trip to LBJ Lake to fish for whatever I can catch. I would fish everyday if I could.”
Walter once made a trip down to Eagle Mountain Lake and caught more than 100 white sea bass. He said he never thought he would catch so many fish in his life.
Walter said he is proud that one of the players he got was Aharon Barnes, a cornerback from Texas that was an All-American player for the Rangers in 2019.
Walter said he went out of his way to get Barnes to play football for NWOSU.
“I had multiple Division I offers in track, but coach Walter called me and sold me to come here,” Barnes said.
“Not even taking a visit, he was always texting and calling me showing how bad he wanted me.”
Walter and Barnes share the same favorite memory with each other. When Barnes was a sophomore playing against Southern Nazarene University, he was waiting his turn the whole season to get a kick-off return.
He didn’t get it until Walter told Barnes, “Earn my trust.”
Barnes returned the kick-off for a touchdown.
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
In the spring of 2016, Walter faced his biggest hardship he has ever had to deal with. His dad, David Walter, died.
“When his dad died, that was the saddest I’ve ever seen him,” Andrade said. “We all saw how bad that affected him.”
Walter missed two weeks of practice because of his father’s death.
“My dad was my hero,” Walter said. “He taught me how to play sports and got me into Boy Scouts. Every day, I try to be like my dad.”
Walter said he is serious about students’ academics. He puts athletes who are struggling in lockdown, where he is with them all day to make sure they get their school work done.
“I really think it is amazing he does that because I would never do that, and I’ve never seen another coach that’s done that,” Gordon said.
Walter has a way of creating lasting bonds with players and coworkers. He said he stays in touch with almost all of his former players and coaches.
“ I’ve never seen a coach that has such strong bonds and makes them feel so welcomed,” Barnes said.
“He gets so close with them, it makes him sad when they have to go because he gets so close,” Gordon said.
