JW Walsh, beloved quarterback for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys will start his after playing career in coaching in Fort Worth this summer for Gary Patterson’s Texas Christian University Horned Frogs. Walsh leaves Stillwater after a successful but injury riddled five seasons as the on and off again signal caller for Mike Gundy’s Pokes. With that, make no mistake, JW Walsh was the leader of those team, especially in the final two seasons as his leadership and maturity were just as important to winning games as was his excellent play on the field. Walsh and OSU had asked the NCAA (as of injuries) for a sixth season but the request was denied. Walsh returns to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He grew up and played his high school ball at Guyer High School in Denton, TX, for his Dad, the football coach at that school. Denton is 40 miles from Fort Worth.
Walsh will be an offensive graduate assistant for the 2016 season. This reunites him with former Oklahoma State offensive coach Doug Meacham, the co-offensive coordinator at TCU and the assistant coach that recruited him to Stillwater. Meacham served as tight ends/inside receivers coach at OSU from 2008 to 2012.
Head Coach Mike Gundy thinks the move is a good one for Walsh.
“If you put yourself in his situation, all of us, and the lifestyle that you lived in your last semester in college with your buddies. Then you have to come back a month later and you’re telling them what to do as a coach? Probably not the best thing. So I think it’s good for him to get around some other programs.”
In January, Gundy remarked, “Walsh “could be the coach here someday.” It appears that journey will simply have to begin elsewhere. J.W. is a smart guy. He knows he’s not going to play professional football. He’s a hero at OSU. He always will be. He set himself up for what he wants to do, which is coach.”
Thanks to the Oklahoman for information used in this article.
Feature Photo Credit: Ben Queen-USA Today
