isutom
February 18th, 2009, 09:59 PM
NEW: ISU picks NFL veteran as new offensive coordinator
Troy Walters played for Colts, Cardinals, Vikings, Lions
Staff Report
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute fans should be familiar with the Indiana State University football team's new offensive coordinator.
ISU coach Trent Miles announced this afternoon that he's hired eight-year NFL veteran Troy Walters as the Sycamores' new offensive coordinator as well as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. Walters is a Bloomington native.
The Sycamores finished 0-12 last season, Miles' first as coach. The ISU offense ranked 117th out of 118 teams in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (or Division I-AA), averaging 201.7 yards per game.
Walters replaces Bill Diedrick, who left after one season.
"Troy Walters' success on the field as a player brings him instant credibility with our players," Miles said. "His knowledge of the game is from the highest levels of football. His greatest qualities mirror everything that our program stands for. He was a tremendous player on the field, he was a great student in the classroom and is a leader in the community. This is a great day for our program to welcome someone with the experience Troy Walters brings into the Sycamore football family."
And for Walters, the chance to join the Sycamore football program represents a great opportunity for an accomplished player to join the collegiate coaching ranks.
"After talking with Trent, I became very excited about the direction he has the Sycamore football program going in," Walters said. "I am very excited about the opportunity to come here. Coaching football has been a goal of mine and working with this program is a great start to this phase of my career."
Walters began his NFL playing career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2000 after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with a 23.1 kickoff return average, seeing action in 12 games. After working for another season primarily as a kick-off return specialist with the Vikings, Walters took his talents to the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2003, Walters started four of 15 games for the Colts and posted career-best numbers with 36 pass receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns. He recorded receptions in 12 outings, including 10 multiple-reception games.
In 2005, he saw action in all 16 games in Indianapolis, making one start at wide receiver and finished the season with 14 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. That season he set single-game career-bests with eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown at Seattle on Christmas Eve.
After moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, Walters played in 15 games and had 23 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the Cardinals' first touchdown of 2006 when he pulled in a two-yard pass in the first quarter of the season opener versus San Francisco.
Walters wrapped up his professional career in 2007 with the Detroit Lions. While there, Walters saw significant action as both a wide receiver and punt return specialist.
Prior to working in the professional ranks, Walters was a star wide receiver for Stanford. Over her standout career, Walters recorded 244 pass receptions for 3,986 yards with 26 touchdowns scored. He also reached the end zone three times on punt returns.
He set a new Pac-10 record for career receptions and set the school career marks for receptions and yards as well as ranking second in receiving touchdowns. Walters won the Bilentnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in college football as a senior with 74 catches for 1,456 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American selection as well as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He also took home Burger King Academic All-America and Academic All-Pac-10 honors.
His 3,986 yards receiving was seventh in the history of college football and his 244 pass receptions were 19th.
"I have been blessed to have played with and played for with so many great offensive minds during my career," Walters said. "I believe I have received a lot of great knowledge from some many people who have demonstrated how to do things successfully."
Walters was born in Bloomington, Ind. His father, Trent Walters, has been an assistant coach at Indiana, Louisville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the college ranks while working in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
He was a stand-out football player at A&M Consolidated High School School where he was a second team All-Greater Houston and third team All-Texas selection as a senior.
Troy Walters played for Colts, Cardinals, Vikings, Lions
Staff Report
The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE — Terre Haute fans should be familiar with the Indiana State University football team's new offensive coordinator.
ISU coach Trent Miles announced this afternoon that he's hired eight-year NFL veteran Troy Walters as the Sycamores' new offensive coordinator as well as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach. Walters is a Bloomington native.
The Sycamores finished 0-12 last season, Miles' first as coach. The ISU offense ranked 117th out of 118 teams in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (or Division I-AA), averaging 201.7 yards per game.
Walters replaces Bill Diedrick, who left after one season.
"Troy Walters' success on the field as a player brings him instant credibility with our players," Miles said. "His knowledge of the game is from the highest levels of football. His greatest qualities mirror everything that our program stands for. He was a tremendous player on the field, he was a great student in the classroom and is a leader in the community. This is a great day for our program to welcome someone with the experience Troy Walters brings into the Sycamore football family."
And for Walters, the chance to join the Sycamore football program represents a great opportunity for an accomplished player to join the collegiate coaching ranks.
"After talking with Trent, I became very excited about the direction he has the Sycamore football program going in," Walters said. "I am very excited about the opportunity to come here. Coaching football has been a goal of mine and working with this program is a great start to this phase of my career."
Walters began his NFL playing career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2000 after being selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. He finished his rookie season with a 23.1 kickoff return average, seeing action in 12 games. After working for another season primarily as a kick-off return specialist with the Vikings, Walters took his talents to the Indianapolis Colts.
In 2003, Walters started four of 15 games for the Colts and posted career-best numbers with 36 pass receptions for 456 yards and three touchdowns. He recorded receptions in 12 outings, including 10 multiple-reception games.
In 2005, he saw action in all 16 games in Indianapolis, making one start at wide receiver and finished the season with 14 receptions for 152 yards and three touchdowns. That season he set single-game career-bests with eight receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown at Seattle on Christmas Eve.
After moving to the Arizona Cardinals in 2006, Walters played in 15 games and had 23 receptions for 209 yards and two touchdowns. He scored the Cardinals' first touchdown of 2006 when he pulled in a two-yard pass in the first quarter of the season opener versus San Francisco.
Walters wrapped up his professional career in 2007 with the Detroit Lions. While there, Walters saw significant action as both a wide receiver and punt return specialist.
Prior to working in the professional ranks, Walters was a star wide receiver for Stanford. Over her standout career, Walters recorded 244 pass receptions for 3,986 yards with 26 touchdowns scored. He also reached the end zone three times on punt returns.
He set a new Pac-10 record for career receptions and set the school career marks for receptions and yards as well as ranking second in receiving touchdowns. Walters won the Bilentnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver in college football as a senior with 74 catches for 1,456 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American selection as well as the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. He also took home Burger King Academic All-America and Academic All-Pac-10 honors.
His 3,986 yards receiving was seventh in the history of college football and his 244 pass receptions were 19th.
"I have been blessed to have played with and played for with so many great offensive minds during my career," Walters said. "I believe I have received a lot of great knowledge from some many people who have demonstrated how to do things successfully."
Walters was born in Bloomington, Ind. His father, Trent Walters, has been an assistant coach at Indiana, Louisville, Washington, Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Notre Dame in the college ranks while working in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles.
He was a stand-out football player at A&M Consolidated High School School where he was a second team All-Greater Houston and third team All-Texas selection as a senior.