Ryan Walters tries to defend Chase Coffman in 2008. Walters is now a coach for Mizzou.
Mizzou football hired Ryan Walters as its safeties coach. The 29 year old Walters comes to Mizzou after spending the past season as cornerbacks coach at Memphis, where he worked under new Mizzou Defensive Coordinator Barry Odom.
Memphis went 10-3 in 2014, thanks in large part to its defense which ranked fifth nationally in points allowed (17.1 ppg) and 22nd in total defense (343.3 ypg) in the regular season.
Walters played collegiately at Colorado, where he was a safety for the Buffaloes (2004-08).
He was victimized by one of Chase Coffman’s outstanding catches. His one-handed grab from QB Chase Daniel vs Colorado on 10/25/2008 is simply known as “The Grab.”
Walters was a team captain for the Buffaloes in 2008, and was picked by his teammates the team’s MVP, but nobody could have stopped Coffman. (Watch the video below)
Walters began his coaching career as a student assistant at Colorado working with the secondary in 2009, and then spent two years on staff at Arizona, where he was a graduate assistant in 2010, before being promoted to defensive backs coach for the 2011 season. Walters moved to the Oklahoma staff as a graduate assistant cornerbacks coach in 2012, moved to North Texas for the 2013 season, where he coached corners.
“I’m really pleased that we are able to attract someone of Ryan’s caliber to join our team,” said Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Barry Odom. “I’ve known him for a while now, and had the chance to work together last year and he made a big impression on me. He’s a loyal and tireless worker who I see as a great technician and fundamentals coach. He was very sought after this past season, so we’re excited to recruit him to Mizzou,” he said.
“I’m excited to join a program as prestigious as Mizzou,” said Walters. “Coach Pinkel and his staff have done a tremendous job over the years and I’m excited to learn their system and also to bring my perspectives in. I’m fired up to work with Barry Odom again, I think he’s one of the best coaches I’ve been around, and it means a lot to me that he wants me in his defensive room. I’m excited to get to work and to help Mizzou continue to compete for championships,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to having Ryan join our staff, he is a really impressive young coach who has a well-respected reputation in the coaching industry,” said Head Coach Gary Pinkel. “He’s had proven success everywhere he’s been and we believe he’s going to do a great job with teaching and leading our safeties,” he said.
