The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association will pay tribute to one of the true legends in collegiate cross country by naming its NCAA Division I Men’s South Region Cross Country Coach of the Year honors after DaveWalker, longtime East Tennessee State head cross country and track and field coach.”I was surprised when I heard the news,” Walker said. “I have been around the USTFCCCA committee for along time now, and it’s an honor to have this award named on my behalf.”

Walker, a living legend on the campus of East Tennessee State, has been with the Buccaneers for nearly five decades. To give an idea of Walker’s longevity, during his tenure at ETSU, eight different men have served as president of the United States; while ETSU has seen six different presidents and nine different athletic directors grace its campus.

His tenure at the helm of the Buccaneer program has been quite busy in his 45 years, producing 30 Cross Country All-Americans and many other talented student-athletes in the Atlantic Sun, Southern, and Ohio Valley Conferences. Since 1969, Walker’s men’s cross country teams have won 22 conference titles, and he has developed a number of world-class runners including Kevin Johnson, a nine-time All-American; Seamus Power, a five-time All-American; and Robert Rovere, a four-time All-American.

Walker’s squad competed in 14 consecutive national championships from 1970 to 1983, which was an NCAA coaching record at the time.

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