Monday, June 11, 2012

Chad Walker Named New Bridgton Academy Head Football Coach


Bridgton Academy is pleased to announce the hiring of Chad Walker as the school’s new Head Football Coach. Walker joins Bridgton Academy from Kenyon College in Ohio, where he worked as the Offensive Coordinator and Offensive Line Coach for the Lords.

Prior to his position at Kenyon, Walker had worked on both sides of the ball with linebackers and tight ends as well as the punt return unit for his alma mater, Lafayette College.  Walker was a four year Varsity Letter winner for Lafayette, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and Sociology.  During his time at Lafayette, Walker was honored in numerous ways: Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, All Conference Patriot League (Football, 2005), All League by nfldraftscout.com (2005), and Nominated and Selected for East Coast Bowl (2005).

Following his graduation from Lafayette, Walker first played professionally in NFL Italy as a player/coach and went on to play in the European Federation of American Football in Sweden. He then returned to the States to coach at Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, working with the defensive line.

“We are very excited to welcome Chad Walker to Bridgton Academy as our new Head Football Coach,” said Bridgton Academy’s Headmaster, Grady Vigneau. “He inherits a long and distinguished tradition of excellence fostered over the last fifty years by coaching legends Tom Austin, Lee Harriman, Tom McCabe, and for the last quarter century, by Rick Marcella.  Chad’s energy, experience, and college coaching network will significantly enhance the already strong reputation that BA football enjoys.  Chad fits the mold of each of his accomplished predecessors, bringing college coaching and recruiting experience to campus along with a foundation of respect for academic rigor and achievement.  His success as a starting college tight end for Lafayette College in the highly respected and academically rigorous Patriot League is a bonus of the highest degree for our aspiring college-student athletes.”

 “I’m honored and excited to be a part of the Bridgton Academy family, and am excited to lead the Wolverine football program in a new direction while continuing to build on the strong foundation that is already in place,” expressed Chad Walker upon his appointment.

Coach John Loose, Defensive Coordinator at Lafayette shared of Walker, “Chad has knowledge of the college recruiting process that will really enable Bridgton student athletes to achieve their goals of continuing their playing careers at the college level. He has tremendous knowledge on both sides of the ball, and has a great work ethic. He will do a great job in every way and will attract quality student athletes and help them understand what it takes to succeed at the next level, in the classroom, in the community, and on the field.”

Coach Walker will be moving to campus with his fiancée, Victoria Hawk, in the next couple of weeks.