Former Texas A&M Men’s Assistant Michael Walker Joins West Virginia As Associate Head Coach

Michael Walker has joined the West Virginia staff as associate head coach, new West Virginia head coach Brent MacDonald announced on Monday. Walker previously was an assistant coach for the Texas A&M men.

“I am extremely humbled to represent the Mountaineers once again,” Walker said. “This place is truly home to me and my family. I am incredibly grateful to Athletics Director Wren Baker, coach [Brent] MacDonald, and the entire athletic department leadership for this opportunity.”

Walker spent this past season with the Texas A&M men’s program as an assistant coach, joining the staff last offseason amidst new NCAA rules allowing for an additional coach. The Aggie men were the first single-gender program to announce a coaching addition that took advantage of new NCAA rules that eliminate volunteer coaching positions but allow teams to hire extra full-time coaches (paid or unpaid).

Prior to Texas A&M, Walker spent five seasons with Delaware, with his first two seasons as assistant coach and his final three as associate head coach. Before arriving at Delaware, Walker was the head coach of the Guatemalan National Swim Team.

Walker also brings club and high school experience as he was an assistant coach at Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida from 2010-2015, serving under former West Virginia head coach Sergio Lopez.

Walker, a West Virginia alum, spent four season as a student-athlete with the Mountaineers. He swam from 2005-2009 and was a team captain in the 2007-2008 season. He graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s in Sports and Exercise Psychology.

Walker is the first announced hire of the Brent MacDonald era. MacDonald was hired as the next head coach a month ago after most recently serving as the head coach of Xavier.

The West Virginia women finished 6th out of 8 teams at the 2024 Big 12 Championships while the men finished 5th out of 5 teams. The women’s program sent 1 swimmer and 1 diver to NCAAs. Mia Cheatwood swam in prelims of the 100 breast (59.73, 28th) and 200 breast (2:09.71, 30th).