Bruce Walker (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Bruce Walker (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

53-year old Missouri assistant football coach Bruce Walker is retiring from coaching.  Walker has been on Head Coach Gary Pinkel’s staff for 18 years, dating all the way back to Pinkel’s time at Toledo from 1996-2000.  Walker came over with Pinkel to Missouri where he was Tight Ends coach and Assistant Offensive Line coach from 2001-2008.  He moved to Co-Offensive Line coach from 2009-2013.

Pinkel released a statement through MUTigers.com:

“Bruce informed me last night that he feels the time is right for him to step away from coaching. Bruce has been a very important part of our success here at Mizzou, and I’m very grateful to him and his family for all of the sacrifices they have made to help our program succeed. We’re going to miss him, no question, and we wish him nothing but the best. Exactly what steps we take here to fill this spot, it’s too soon to know, but we’ll get to work on that right away.”

According to the athletic website, Walker plans to move to Washington state to be with his family.  He also released a statement through the athletic department:

“In this business everybody has a time when they need to hang it up, and it’s my time. I’m very proud to have been a part of 102 wins here and all that we’ve achieved, and I’m proud of the legacy I leave behind with all the players I’ve touched over a 26-year career. Mizzou has been a special place for me, I’ve loved my time here and I’ll always be Tiger. I’ve had a great run and now it’s time to go be with my family and do other things. Coaches don’t often get to go out on their own terms, so I’m grateful that I have the opportunity to do it my way.”