Memphis native and longtime professional goalkeeping standout Jonny Walker joined Coach Brooks Monaghan's staff in 2009 for his first college coaching position.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Jonny Walker on our staff here at the University of Memphis," Monaghan said. "The playing experience he brings is second to none. His experience playing for teams in MLS, Chile, and the national teams is something that is very hard to find."
Walker brings with him more than a decade of record-setting professional experience, including becoming the first American soccer player to establish a successful soccer career in South America (Chile) and completing two stints in Major League Soccer (MLS).
Walker was a member of Universidad Catolica's championship team in Chile's First Division in 2002. Walker also played in multiple Copa Libertadores tournaments, notching wins against Argentina's Boca Juniors and Brazil's Flamengo. He finished his South American career with Colo Colo, the only Chilean club to ever win Copa Libertadores.
Walker's most recent professional stop was with the MLS's Columbus Crew, where he won the team's 2005 Defensive Player of the Year award after finishing second in MLS with a Goals Against Average (GAA) of 1.12.
From 2003-2005, Walker played with MLS's NY/NJ MetroStars, where in 2003 he became the third goalkeeper in MLS history to finish a season with a sub-1.00 GAA, capturing a league-best 0.95 GAA. That same year Walker was the MLS Player of the Month for August and the MetroStars finished runners-up in the U.S. Open Cup.
In 2004, Walker started and played three matches for the United States National Team, including a 1-0 shutout over Mexico on April 28.
Prior to returning to the U.S. in 2003, Walker spent six months with Colo Colo in Chile's First Division. That season Colo Colo finished runners-up in the Chilean Apertura National Championship and played in the 2003 Copa Libertadores.
From 1997-2002, Walker broke numerous national records for Universidad Catolica in Chile's First Division. In 2002, Walker was named Best Goalkeeper of the Chilean Apertura National Championship as well set a Club record going 708 minutes (almost nine games) without being scored on, a record just broken in 2008.Also in 2002, Walker led U. Catolica to the Chilean Apertura National Championship. He was also named Best Goalkeeper in Round One of Copa Libertadores later that year.
In 2001, Walker won the Chilean Goalkeeper of the Year, while U. Catolica finished runners-up in the Chilean National Championship. That season U. Catolica advanced to play in Copa Mercosur for the fourth straight season. They also competed in the Copa Libertadores. In 1999, U. Catolica finished runners-up in the Chilean National Championship.
In 1998, on loan from U. Catolica, Walker played for Club Hauchipato in Chile's First Division. In his only season with Hauchipato, Walker was named the team's MVP.Prior to going overseas, Walker played one season with the Dallas Burn of the MLS in 1996.
Walker played one season at the University of Louisville before beginning his professional career. Walker still holds the record for most saves in a match for Louisville (17) versus Evansville (9-8-94).He also has the most saves in a single season for a Cardinal with 151. (1994)He was named to the All Metro Conference First Team in 1994.
Walker represented the University of Louisville at the 1995 World University Games in Japan.He also participated in the 1995 Olympic Festival games in Denver, where he played for the South Team.Walker was one of only two goalkeepers in the country to be invited for full time residency at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in preparation for the '96 Olympic Games.
Walker has been very involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, giving free soccer clinics to kids who raise the most money through their soccer club for the Soccer Kicks for Cancer program. In 2005, Walker was named the Ambassador for the State of Tennessee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Walker holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville which he completed in 2007. He and his wife, Shauna, have two sons, Seth and Adam.
In 2004, Walker started and played three matches for the United States National Team, including a 1-0 shutout over Mexico on April 28. 
