Northwestern University Athletics
Hall of Fame
Randy Walker
- Induction:
- 2016
Randy Walker spent seven seasons as Northwestern’s head football coach from 1999-2005, winning the 2000 Big Ten championship, becoming the first coach to take the Wildcats to three bowl games and the first coach to lead the program to three-consecutive seasons with four or more Big Ten victories. He died in June of 2006 shortly after signing a contract extension through the 2011 season.
An innovator on offense, Walker introduced the run-first spread attack in his second season in Evanston. On Nov. 4, 2000, on ABC, Northwestern defeated No. 12 Michigan, 54-51, at Ryan Field in what has been called one of the most exciting games in the sport’s history. The game is widely credited with heralding the arrival of the spread offense to college football.
NU won the Big Ten title in 2000 with a 6-2 record and earned a berth in the Alamo Bowl. Walker would later take Northwestern to the Motor City Bowl (2003) and the Sun Bowl (2005).
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Walker served as the head coach at his alma mater, Miami University, from 1990-98. In 1995, Walker’s RedHawks program was the lone team to defeat Northwestern during the Wildcats’ magical 1995 Big Ten championship season. With that victory and his stint in Evanston, Walker became the only coach to beat ever other member of the Big Ten Conference.
An innovator on offense, Walker introduced the run-first spread attack in his second season in Evanston. On Nov. 4, 2000, on ABC, Northwestern defeated No. 12 Michigan, 54-51, at Ryan Field in what has been called one of the most exciting games in the sport’s history. The game is widely credited with heralding the arrival of the spread offense to college football.
NU won the Big Ten title in 2000 with a 6-2 record and earned a berth in the Alamo Bowl. Walker would later take Northwestern to the Motor City Bowl (2003) and the Sun Bowl (2005).
Prior to coming to Northwestern, Walker served as the head coach at his alma mater, Miami University, from 1990-98. In 1995, Walker’s RedHawks program was the lone team to defeat Northwestern during the Wildcats’ magical 1995 Big Ten championship season. With that victory and his stint in Evanston, Walker became the only coach to beat ever other member of the Big Ten Conference.
Men's Basketball - Wildcats Come up Short at No. 12 Spartans (1/8/26)
Friday, January 09
Men's Basketball - Collins, Martinelli Preview Michigan State (1/7/26)
Wednesday, January 07
Women's Basketball - Iowa Postgame Press Conference
Tuesday, January 06
Men's Basketball - Minnesota Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, January 04
