Jonny Walker

Biography

Memphis native and longtime professional goalkeeper Jonny Walker joined Coach Brooks Monaghan’s staff in 2009 and has helped take the program to new heights. Walker brought with him more than a decade of record-setting professional experience, including becoming the first American soccer player to establish a successful professional career in South America (Chile) and completing two different stints in Major League Soccer (MLS). Following the 2018 season, Walker was promoted as the program’s associate head coach in January 2019. Since Walker’s first season on the coaching staff in 2009, Memphis has recorded 185 wins, and he has helped lead the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament nine times in his 14 seasons. Walker has consistently groomed success in goalkeepers, as each of his first five years on staff coincided with record-setting performances. In 2009, a trio of keepers combined for a then-record 12 shutouts. The following season in 2010, the squad posted a second-straight, sub-1.00 goals-against average, the first time that occurred in consecutive seasons in the program’s history. The trend continued in 2011 as Elise Kuhar-Pitters posted season records for shutouts (15) and goals-against average (0.46). Under Walker’s guidance, Kuhar-Pitters was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America Second-Team selection, becoming the first keeper in Tigers history to earn All-America honors. The 2012 and 2013 seasons saw Walker insert a freshman in goal as a star