Greg Walker

Greg Walker is the Head Volleyball Coach at Smith College.

Greg Walker is in his third season (2023) as the head coach of the Smith volleyball team. He was hired as the 10^th coach in program history in February 2020. Walker came to Northampton after spending most of his career in Division I, most recently serving as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California. He is a current, Senior National Team Coach with USA Volleyball and has been on the USA National Team staff since 2013.

“His experience and proven ability to turn around programs speaks for itself. He brings a strong vision for our student-athletes and I am excited about the future of smith Volleyball under Greg’s leadership.” – Kristin Hughes, Smith College Athletic Director

In his first season of competition at Smith College, Walker led the Pioneers to one of the best season turnarounds in the country. Taking over a program that had gone 38-125 in the last decade and posting a tremendous 21-11 record and a post season NEWMAC Tournament appearance, Smith’s first in the last decade. One of the keys to the team’s resurgence was an outstanding recruiting class that included 12 first-years. As a team, the Pioneers finished first in the conference in all point-scoring categories with team kills, service aces and blocks. The Pioneers had six student-athletes receiving post season nods by the NEWVA for their success on the court this season. Olivia Smith was named to the 2021 NEWMAC Fall All-Sportsmanship Team. Walker was selected by his peers as the 2021 NEWMAC Coach of the Year.

What others are saying about Greg Walker:

“Greg is one of the finest volleyball coaches in the country - his volleyball knowledge is off the charts, he’s incredibly committed to the student-athlete experience, and he brings an unsurpassed passion to the game.”

– Jenny McDowell, LOVB LeagueOneVolleyball | Former Emory Volleyball Head Coach

“Greg has a passion for the sport and a diverse set of experiences at the collegiate and international level and is incredibly skilled with the organizational part of the game.”

– John Speraw, USA Men’s National Team Coach | UCLA Men’s Volleyball Head Coach

“Greg is extremely talented, hardworking and diligent and is an excellent leader… As the head coach for USA Volleyball’s Men’s Sitting National Team, Greg has led the team to new heights including a best ever finish at World Championships and I am confident that he will do the same at Smith.”

– Jamie Davis, CEO USA Volleyball

Walker is one of very few coaches in the United States that has coached and had success at all levels of the NCAA for both men and women as well as all the disciplines and National Team programs at USA Volleyball.

Career Highlights and Awards

• Led an unranked USA Senior National Team Program to top world ranking.
• Transformed a Power-5 program that was bottom team in country to an NCAA tournament run and a national finish of top #5 in one season.
• Recruited a top #7 DI recruiting class in the nation to USC
• Transformed another mid-major D1 program that was the bottom team in country to a top 25 finish within two seasons.
• Started a new NCAA D2 program, in first year had 20+ wins.
• Led an NCAA D2 program to a Conference Championship in first season as a first-time head coach.
• Holds collegiate win record at two institutions.
• Led a California HS team to second round of CIF States in one season.

At Smith:

• Transformed Smith, almost ranked 300/433, to jump the entire Division, into the NCAA Regional Rankings in one season.
• Regional Ranked for the 3rd year in a row in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

NEWMAC Conference Tournament Appearances (2021, 2022, 2023)

NEWMAC Coach of the Year (2021)

• AVCA 30 Under 30 Recipient (2017)
• 5x Coach/Staff of the Year (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2021)
• 11 Conference Tournament Postseasons (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
• 9 AVCA All-American selections (10 honors)
• 1 AVCA Region Freshman of the Year
• 3 AVCA All-Region selections (4 honors)
• 2 Conference Player of the Year (3 honors)
• 2 Conference Freshman of the Year (2 honors)
• 7 Conference Championship All-Tournament Team selections (8 honors)
• 1 NEWVA Freshman of the Year
• 3 NEWVA All-Rookie (3 honors)
• 6 NEWVA All-New England (6 honors)
• 30 All-Conference selections (36 honors)
• 25 All-Academic selections (31 honors)

In the Record Book | Smith College

Smith College | Head Coach

2023

2022

The Pioneers finished the season with their second consecutive 20+ win season, and second playoff post season run. Smith was one of the best blocking teams in the country! Smith advanced to the conference tournament semifinal, the first since 2005, and lost to top ranked #8 MIT. First year Abby Hunt was named the NEWMAC Rookie of the Year, NEWMAC All-Conference, AVCA All-Region Player of the Year, AVCA All-All Region, Ari Cross was named to the 2022 NEWMAC All-Sportsmanship Team, Ava Zollinger to NEWVA All-New England, five Pioneers landed on the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference list as well as three on the CSC Academic All-District list.

2021

In his first season of competition at Smith College, Walker led the Pioneers to one of the best season turnarounds in the country. Taking over a program that had gone 38-125 in the last decade and posting a tremendous 21-11 record and a post season NEWMAC Tournament appearance, Smith’s first in the last decade. One of the keys to the team’s resurgence was an outstanding recruiting class that included 12 first-years. As a team, the Pioneers finished first in the conference in all point-scoring categories with team kills, service aces and blocks. The Pioneers had six student-athletes receiving post season nods by the NEWVA for their success on the court this season. Olivia Smith was named to the 2021 NEWMAC Fall All-Sportsmanship Team. Walker was selected by his peers as the 2021 NEWMAC Coach of the Year.

USA Volleyball | National Team

Walker has led Team USA through three quadrennials. The MSNT has improved into World Rankings with being ranked 11^th in 2014 in the World Championships hosted in Poland. They improved seeing an 8^th place finish in the Netherlands in 2018 and with their program best finish and highest world ranking with an unprecedented 6^th place finish in Bosnia in 2022.

Walker has led Team USA to podium finishes in the Para Pan American Games and the Paravolley Pan American Zone Championships multiple times.

In 2022, the International Sport Federation, World Paravolley, recognized Walker for the programs highest world ranking and competitive advances of Team USA, with naming him as the recipient for the Outstanding Achievement Award for International Coaching.

Walker served on the Men’s Indoor National Team staff during the Tokyo Quad, with being a Consultant Coach for multiple VNL rounds and NORCECA events as well as being named to staff as an Assistant coach for VNL Bulgaria and the Pan American Cup in 2018 in Cordova-Veracruz, Mexico.

University of Southern California | Assistant Coach

Walker spent the 2019 season as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California where he led the Trojans to yet another historic turnaround season and record setting year. The Trojans more than doubled their win total from 2018 by going 18-11 overall (their most wins since 2015) and finishing third in the MPSF at 7-5 (their highest league finish since 2012). Troy was the MPSF Tournament runner-up and, for the first time since 2012, qualified for the NCAAs.

USC, playing the nation's toughest schedule, had 7 wins over teams ranked in the AVCA Top 10 at the time and won 11 of its last 15 matches. Its in-season No. 4 AVCA ranking was the program's highest since 2015 and its final No. 5 ranking was its best finish since 2012. Troy was undefeated at home (12-0) for the first time since 2000 and was 5-2 on neutral courts.

At USC, Walker oversaw recruiting efforts and signed the #7 recruiting class in the country ranked by Volleyball Magazine. He planned and ran practices, oversaw the scouting and game planning, and was the point person for the support staff and the student-athletes.

Sacred Heart University | Head Coach, Men; Assistant Coach, Women

He guided Sacred Heart University of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association to a 15-11 mark in 2017 (third most wins in school history overall and has the most wins in the NCAA DI/II National Championship era) and produced the program’s first and only AVCA All-American. Walker led the SHU Pioneers to regular season victories over Penn State (had not happened in the history of the EIVA since 1984 by any institution). He was named the 2017 EIVA Coach of the Year.

During his time at Sacred Heart, Walker was an assistant with the women’s team, helping the 2016 squad to a school-record 22 wins and the Northeast Conference regular season title. In 2015, the Pioneer women advanced to the Northeast Conference tournament semifinals. Sacred Heart had the NEC player of the Year in both 2015 and 2016.

Alderson Broaddus University | Head Coach, Men

Walker was the head coach at Alderson Broaddus University where he set the win record for the program with their only 20+ win season in program history and conference championship. His talented squad was recognized by Off the Block with four of his student-athletes receiving national honors.

Mississippi State University | Assistant Coach, Women

Walker served as the assistant coach of the Mississippi State women’s volleyball program. Under his tutelage, he produced the Bulldog’s first, two-AVCA All-Americans in the same season. He trained the team’s defense and pin attackers.

Pfeiffer University | Head Coach, Men & Women

His first head coaching job came at Pfeiffer University, a NCAA DII institution in North Carolina. It was a unique position where he was head coach of the men’s and women’s volleyball programs. He led the men, to their program’s second-consecutive Conference Carolina Championship Title in 2013. Walker’s offense led the country with having the statistical champion for kills per set and runner up for points per set. His servers contributing off the service line with top 6 in the country for aces per set. He was named the 2012-13 Pfeiffer University Athletics Coach of the Year.

Volunteer Assistant Coach | Juniata College, Mercer University, University of Oregon

Education

• 2021 United States Sports Academy Alumnus of the Year
• Earned a Master in Education from Xavier University in Coaching Education and Athlete Development
• Earned a Bachelor in Sport Science from the United States Sports Academy in Sports Coaching
• Studied Kinesiology at The Pennsylvania State University
• USA Volleyball Coaching Accreditation Program (CAP) Level V – (reserved for only USA National Team Head Coaches)

Committees | Other Professional Work

• Lecturer in Exercise & Sport Studies | Smith College
• Certification Council Member, CMPC Certification Council and Mentorship Committee | Association for Applied Sport Psychology
• Committee Member | NCAA Coaching Enhancement Grant Selection Committee
• American Volleyball Coaches Association Mentor

Personal

• A native of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Walker resides in Northampton, Mass., with his wife Heather, and daughters Avery and Devin. Heather is a Senior Research Project Manager for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the best cancer care in the country.
• Played piano since age 3 and also plays guitar and trumpet.
• Holds a 5^th Degree Blackbelt in martial arts.
• Has lived in 9 states, traveled to all states in the USA except Alaska. Traveled to over 20 countries.