Walker and Cross Country Squad Moving in Right Direction
9/3/2008 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 3, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama cross country coach Joe Walker is entering his ninth year at the Capstone this season. Over the years, he has been able to bring in some of the best student-athletes from across the world. The Crimson Tide cross country program has been on a steady rise before finishing in sixth place at the 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships. This year, the goal is to be standing on the podium receiving a trophy.
"Head track and cross country coach Harvey Glance and I are always focused on bringing in the best athletes we can regardless of where they are from or what they look like," Coach Walker said. "We at The University of Alabama want to compete at the highest level so we are trying to search the country and the world to find the best fit for our program."
Walker has not just been successful here but also at the JUCO level where he led Meridian Community College to two NJCAA Team titles in 1996 and 1997. He then began achieving great things at The University of South Alabama winning the Sun Belt Conference team title in 1999 before being named the assistant track and cross country coach at The University of Alabama in 2000.
Walker, a former collegiate student-athlete, ran under his father, Joe Walker, at The University of Mississippi. He was a member of a world ranked 4x1500-meter relay team while running for the Rebels. Father and son coach against each other at the SEC Championships now every year.
"I think for me, running under my dad was a great situation. We're pretty close and I would say that I don't just consider him my dad but probably my best friend," Coach Walker said. "We have a pretty neat relationship getting up everyday to do the same thing. It's fun to coach against my dad. We've had a lot of success against his guys, but I often root for his athletes as well. My dad and I have found ways to enjoy coaching against each other."
Walker enjoys his job as a coach as well as the external aspects of being around student-athletes at this level. Of course the success on the course is a vital part of his job in the NCAA, but the satisfaction can come from what the students accomplish off it.
"We are lucky enough to spend four or five years with these athletes right when, I believe, the athlete is moving from a youth to an adult," Coach Walker said. "One of the fun aspects of our job is we are able to witness these guys grow as both a student and an athlete as well as watch their development as a person."
Glance has made a concerted effort to make the cross country team and distance program a dominant force at for the Crimson Tide. This is evident from the success of the program with three National Champions, 16 All-Americans, 19 SEC Champions, and three SEC Cross Country SEC Athlete of the Year awards.
"I told Coach Walker when I hired him ten years ago that I want to continue a strong tradition of cross country here at The University of Alabama because we have a great history in the sport," Coach Glance said. "I feel like we have a good shot to be at the top in this sport with his coaching expertise and with the type of athletes that we have recruited."
The Crimson Tide will begin their 2008 campaign towards the NCAA podium on Sept. 5 at the UTC Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn. Alabama will then host the 20th Annual Crimson Classic on Sept. 20 at the Harry Pritchett Course.
