brian walker/matt willard/support staff
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Brian
Walker
Willard
Volunteer Assistant Coach 2nd Season - Arkansas, 2011
Brian Walker is in his second season on the Razorback coaching staff and in his first year as the team’s volunteer assistant coach. Walker works primarily with the Razorback catchers. In his first season on the Arkansas coaching staff, Walker mentored James McCann, one of the top catchers in collegiate baseball. McCann, who was named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, enjoyed his best season at the plate, finishing the year with a .306 batting average with six homers and 38 RBI. Defensively, McCann had a .992 fielding percentage, comitting just four errors, while throwing out 20 would-be base stealers. McCann was a second round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 MLB Draft. Walker joined the Arkansas coaching staff after spending four years in the Anaheim Angels minor league system. Walker closed the 2010 season with the Angels’ triple-A squad, Salt Lake City. In six games with Salt Lake City, he hit .300 with six RBIs. A three-year letterwinner at Arkansas, Walker played in 164 games, including 145 starts, and hit .260 with 26 home runs and 98 RBI. Walker was stellar in the field for the Razorbacks, committing just five errors over his three-year career for a .996 fielding percentage. He was drafted in the 29th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Anaheim Angels. A native of Tulsa, Okla., Walker graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in kinesiology. Walker and his wife, McKenzi, have two children, Claire (3) and Joseph (3).
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Matt
Student Assistant Coach 2nd Season
Matt Willard is in his second season as a student assistant coach where he works with the Razorback infielders. Willard returned to Arkansas after playing three years in the minor leagues in the Cleveland Indians system. Willard most recently played in 2009, where he split time between single-A Lake County and single-A Kinston. A two-year letterwinner as a Razorback, Willard saw time in 105 games and made 89 starts. He finished his collegiate career with a .289 batting average, two home runs and 36 RBI. Willard was selected in the 49th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. A native of Philadelphia, Willard is majoring in marketing. Willard resides in Fayetteville.
Matt Berning Sports Medicine Graduate Assistant
Dave England Head Athletic Trainer
Scott Gurss Manager
Sammy Hassan Manager
Justin Johnson Academic Coordinator
Katie Johnson Sports Medicine Graduate Assistant
Pat Kelly Public Address Announcer
Jordan Larkan Manager
The Walker family (L to R): Joseph, McKenzi, Brian and Claire Wade Mosley Turf Manager Baum Stadium
2012 ARKANSAS BASEBALL MEDIA GUIDE
Jason Suitt Director of Marketing
Karen Taylor Sports Medicine Graduate Assistant
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