Thursday, July 18, 2013

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Kellen Walker, who led Western Oregon to its 12th straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season baseball title and the inaugural GNAC post-season tournament championship last spring, has been named head baseball coach and will lead the program on a permanent basis.

Walker served as the interim head coach for WOU during the 2013 season following six seasons with the Wolves as an assistant coach.

"Kellen has been a key part of a very successful program at WOU over the last seven years and did a tremendous job as the interim head coach last season," WOU athletic director Barbara Dearing said. 

"He is a diligent worker with attention to detail and has shown he is ready to take the reins of the program. Throughout the process, it was clear Kellen would do a great job of ensuring our student-athletes would have a championship experience at WOU.  We look forward to the baseball program continuing its success under his leadership."

As the interim head coach during the 2013 season, Walker led the Wolves to a 34-20 overall record as WOU captured the regular season GNAC title while winning the inaugural GNAC postseason tournament championship. In Walker's seven seasons with the WOU baseball program, the Wolves have amassed an overall record of 246-113 while advancing to the NCAA West Regional Baseball Championship four times.

Under his guidance in 2013, WOU had 10 student-athletes named to the GNAC all-conference squad while shortstop Blake Miller earned a pair of All-American honors and was named Daktronics, Inc., West Region Player of the Year. In addition, Miller and pitcher AJ Burke were selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

"I am excited and honored to continue on as the head baseball coach at Western Oregon University," Walker said. "I would like to thank President Mark Weiss, Jon Carey (former WOU athletic director), Barbara Dearing and the entire search committee for this wonderful opportunity. The WOU baseball program has had tremendous success over the years and I look forward to building on the tradition. I want the best for the student-athletes who come through the program and I am excited to help them reach their goals on and off the field."

Prior to serving as the program's interim head coach, Walker spent six seasons as an assistant coach at WOU. During his time in the position, Walker worked with the WOU infielders and served as the program's hitting instructor.

Walker also served as the lead recruiter for the program and was involved in organizing and running practices. Walker also handled administrative duties for the baseball program, including scheduling travel, coordinating camps and other fundraising activities.

Walker played collegiately for two seasons at Lassen CC in Susanville, Calif., earning a pair of all-conference honors. He then played two seasons at Point Loma Nazarene University, where he hit .283 with 32 RBI and 11 stolen bases as a senior.

A Roseburg, Ore., native, he was an all-state selection for Roseburg High School in football and baseball.

Walker is married to Tyler Sutherland, an outstanding softball student-athlete for the Wolves from 2007-10. The couple was married in the summer of 2010 and had their first child, Gracie, in November of 2011.