Coaching career ends for Roseburg's Walker
By TOM EGGERS/The News-Review, Roseburg, Ore.- July 10, 2009
Talking football, even if high school and college practices are still a month away:Roseburg won't have a familiar coaching face around when it begins daily doubles in late August. Bob Walker, a member of Thurman Bell's staff the past 23 years, has ended his coaching career dating back to 1975.
Walker, 56, coached the offensive line and worked with the defensive ends. Known as “Elliott” around the coaches' room, Walker was part of the most successful 10-year stretch in school history.Roseburg won state titles in 1995 and 1996, and was a co-champion in 1990.
The Indians finished second from 1987-89. Roseburg had a terrific run of talented linemen during that time, and Walker got the most out of them.“It's been great ... all the people,” said Walker, who plans to teach health and physical education at RHS the next two years.
“The coaches, the kids, the community. I always enjoyed going to practice after getting out of the classroom.“It's been fun. It exceeded what I thought it would be.”Walker had been thinking about retiring from coaching for a couple of years.
He said last year was a struggle for him physically.“It was a rough year,” he said. “I was so banged up and tired by the end of the year. My knee wouldn't bend. My back started hurting, and both shoulders started acting up.”Walker served the third-longest time on Bell's staff, trailing Ron Goodell (33 years) and Mark Engle (28 years). Bruce Walker (no relation) is entering his 23rd season as an assistant.
“Elliott was with us for a long time and did a wonderful job,” Bell said. “He was a technician ... a great Xs and Os guy, and knew the offensive line inside and out. He wasn't a rah-rah coach. He did an excellent job of working with the kids who were highly motivated.”Walker was in the press box on Friday nights, giving Bell his input on which plays to run when the Indians were on offense.“That was where he was at his best,” Bell said.
“He had a pretty cool head.”Walker coached the likes of tackles Heath Howington (1987-89), Brad Simmons (1988-90), Matt Morrow (1995-96), Sandon Duncan (1995-96) and Robin Knebel (1997-99), guards Chris Gibson (1995-96) and Matt Brock (1997-99), and centers Greg Harris (1987) and Toby Johnson (1996). Howington (Oregon), Knebel (Oregon), Gibson (Oregon State) and Brock (Oregon State) all became starters on the Division I level.
“I could give you hundreds of names,” said Walker, who politely refused to name an all-time top five list of best blockers. “It's tough to remember when everyone played. There were other kids (aside from the all-staters) who were amazing, to play like they did.”
Walker — a 1970 graduate of Grants Pass and former Linfield College player — came to Roseburg after 11 years of coaching under Ad Rutschman at Linfield.
Bob says he'll spend more time on the golf course this fall. He added a vacation with Laurie, his wife of 25 years, is in the works for later this year.“My golf game is bound to get better,” he said.
“It can't get any worse.”
BEAVERS. All reports out of Corvallis say the Rodgers brothers — James and Jacquizz — should be 100 percent by the time OSU's fall camp begins on Aug. 10.
