Remembering a Coach
The college football world mourned this week the loss of Jim Walden, the former Iowa State head coach who died at the age of 88. Walden’s name resonated far beyond Ames, echoing through the halls of Washington State, Nebraska and Wyoming, where his contributions to the game were celebrated.
Born in Wyoming and a standout player at the University of Wyoming, Walden first made his mark on the field as a leader of the Skyline Conference, earning league player‑of‑the‑year honors in 1959. After three seasons in the Canadian Football League, he turned to coaching, eventually joining the staff at Nebraska where he helped the Cornhuskers capture back‑to‑back national championships in 1970 and 1971.
In 1987 he accepted the top job at Iowa State, a program battered by NCAA sanctions. Over eight seasons he compiled a 28‑57‑3 record, but his tenure was defined by moments that transcended the ledger. In 1989 his offense averaged 430 yards per game, one of the most prolific attacks in school history, and the Cyclones posted a 6‑5 season that included a tie for fourth in the Big Eight.
The following years produced some of the most memorable upsets in Cyclone lore. Walden’s squad stunned No. 16 Oklahoma in 1990 and followed it with a victory over No. 7 Nebraska in 1992, feats that still pepper the conversation among longtime fans. During his time in Ames he mentored five All‑Americans, including standouts such as Bret Oberg, Blaise Bryant, Mike Busch, Gene Williams and Doug Skartvedt, who later reflected on his influence on their development.
After departing Iowa State, Walden revitalized Washington State, earning two Pac‑10 Coach of the Year awards and guiding the Cougars to several winning campaigns. His success there was rooted in the same tenacity that had characterized his earlier work, and his reputation as a program builder grew accordingly.
Colleagues and former players alike paid tribute, with figures such as Troy Davis, Keith Sims, Marcus Robertson and Bob Devaney recalling his mentorship and the indelible imprint he left on their careers. The halls of Washington State and Wyoming soon followed with inductions into their respective athletics halls of fame in 2009 and 2011, cementing his place in college football history.