Louisville Track and Field’s Walker, Jr. Earns Award from USA Track & Field
Jumps coach Joe Walker, Jr., was recognized for coaching Brittney Reese to a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in the long jump.
November 29, 2012
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville track and field assistant coach Joe Walker, Jr., will be honored for coaching Brittney Reese to an Olympic gold medal Thursday night in Daytona Beach, Fla.
At the Olympic Games Recognition Ceremony, hosted by USA Track and Field, Walker, Jr. will be presented an Order of Ikkos medal, given to coaches whose athletes medal at an Olympic Games.
Late on Aug. 8, Walker directed three-time long jump World Champion Reese to the Olympic gold medal in the event. After placing sixth in her group in the qualifying rounds with a leap of 6.57m/21-6.75 to advance, Reese secured the gold medal on just her second jump of the finals with a mark of 7.12m/23-4.50.
Walker, the father of Louisville's men's distance coach, Joe Walker, III joined the Cardinals' family in July after accepting the position in April. He carries a wealth of experience to Louisville, as he owns more than 40 years of coaching experience, including 33 in the Southeastern Conference, and has spent the last 24-straight years building Ole Miss into a consistent national power.
Through his career, Walker’s athletes have produced 16 Division I national titles, 147 All-America distinctions and 105 individual conference titles (71 in the Southeastern Conference; 34 in the Gulf South Conference). Walker has guided his squads to eight collegiate conference crowns, and he helped lead the only high school he coached for to a state title.
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