Coach Profile
Head Coach
Kellen Walker
Entering his eighth as the program's head coach in 2020, Kellen Walker has compiled a 212-137 (.607) overall record and an even better mark in GNAC play at 168-84 (.667).
During his tenure, Walker has led the Wolves to three regular-season GNAC championships and four GNAC Tournament crowns.
The 2019 season not only saw the Wolves put together a 30-win season and 26 GNAC victories, but WOU ended up with four players being drafted in the MLB Draft (Jared McDonald in 19th round by Oakland Athletics, Alex Roth in 21st round by Pittsburgh Pirates, Austin Crowson in 39th round by Philadelphia Phillies and Koty Fallon in 40th round by San Diego Padres), while Gabe Benavides signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent. Eleven were named the All-GNAC Team with Roth tabbed as Pitcher of the Year and Jacob Maiben as Freshman of the Year. Roth, Crowson, McDonald, Patrick Chung, Collin Runge, Connor McCord and Griddey Halle were all named to the first team. WOU won the final four games of the regular season and opened the GNAC Tournament with a solid win over Northwest Nazarene. The Wolves dominated at home going 15-3. McDonald was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team, while seven players were tabbed to the NCBWA All-West Region Team. McDonald, Roth and McCord all landed on the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region Team and both McCord and Roth earned All-American status from the NCBWA. Austin Crowson tossed the fifth no-hitter in GNAC history and the third since WOU joined NCAA Division II and the Wolves needed the gem picking up the 2-0 win over Concordia.
A GNAC Tournament title followed in 2018 when the Wolves opened the tournament with a win over Central Washington and then after splitting a pair of games with MSU Billings, WOU won the championship game with a convincing 8-4 win over the ‘Jackets for back-to-back GNAC crowns. WOU won 27 games during the season and added 24 wins in conference, including a 12-9 record at home and did just as well on the road with a 13-10 road record. Thirteen were named to the All-GNAC team with Roth earning Pitcher of the Year honors and Kolbe Bales as Freshman of the Year. Roth, McDonald and Jay Leverett were all named to the first team. Leverett and McDonald were also selected to the NCBWA All-West Region teams, while Leverett was named to the Google Cloud Academic All-District Team. Seven landed on the Academic GNAC Team.
Walker coached the Wolves to their 14th GNAC title in 2017 as Western Oregon went 27-12 in conference and then added to that a perfect run in the GNAC Tournament winning all three games by outscoring their opponents 26-9. WOU went 31-15 overall and played just four games at home during the season going 2-2. The Wolves put together an impressive 14-3 record in neutral site games and then added a 15-10 overall road record. WOU opened the conference slate winning their first seven games and didn’t play a true home game until the final series of the season against Northwest Nazarene in the beginning of May. During the run to the GNAC Tournament title, pitcher Cam Walker helped set a GNAC record at the time with 10 strikeouts for not only a career-high, but also a single game high for any game in GNAC Championship history. Ten were named to the All-GNAC team with Walker tabbed as Coach of the Year, Connor McCord Freshman of the Year and Nyles Nygaard Newcomer of the Year. Three landed on the first team in Brady Miller, Justin Wakem and Jay Leverett. Six others were tabbed to the Academic GNAC Team. Miller was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, while six were named to the NCBWA All-West Region teams with Kade Mechals landing on the first team.
In 2015, the Wolves went 29-24 as Walker led the Western Oregon baseball program to a GNAC Tournament title. Under his guidance, Matt Taylor and Jesse Pratt earned All-West Region honors. GNAC Pitcher of the Year went to Jesse Pratt and GNAC Freshman of the Year went to Brady Miller. Overall, 10 student-athletes earned All-GNAC selections.
The Wolves won the 2014 GNAC regular season title and hosted the conference tournament for the second straight year. Walker guided 11 student-athletes to All-Conference performance seasons. Daniel McNabb was named All-Region, and Spenser Watkins was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 30th round.
In 2013, he led the Western Oregon baseball program to its 13th straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season title.
As the interim head coach during the 2013 season, Walker led the Wolves to a 34-20 overall record as WOU captured the regular season GNAC title while winning the inaugural GNAC postseason tournament championship. Walker was named GNAC Coach of the Year in 2013 and in his eight seasons with the WOU baseball program, the Wolves have amassed an overall record of 276-134 while advancing to the NCAA West Regional Baseball Championship four times.
Under his guidance in 2013, WOU had 10 student-athletes named to the GNAC all-conference squad while shortstop Blake Miller earned a pair of All-American honors and was named Daktronics, Inc., West Region Player of the Year. In addition, Miller and pitcher AJ Burke were selected in the 2013 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
Prior to serving as the program's head coach, Walker spent six seasons as an assistant coach at WOU. During his time in the position, Walker worked with the WOU infielders and served as the program's hitting instructor.
Walker also served as the lead recruiter for the program and was involved in organizing and running practices. Walker also handled administrative duties for the baseball program, including scheduling travel, coordinating camps and other fundraising activities.