Bobcats elevate tight ends coach Walker to OC
BOZEMAN — Montana State wasted no time finding its next offensive coordinator, promoting fourth-year staff member Tyler Walker Wednesday to replace Tyler Housewright, who left to be the OC for the Akron Zips.
Bobcats head coach Brent Vigen made the announcement; Walker spent the past two seasons coaching the Bobcat tight ends and fullbacks.
“I have seen a tremendous amount of growth from Tyler in our three years together,” Vigen said. “The work he has demonstrated gives me great confidence in promoting him into this role. I feel strongly that this move will allow us to continue to move forward with our offense.”
Walker’s 2023 tight end group was one of the more accomplished position groups in the FCS. Seniors Derryk Snell, at fullback, and Treyton Pickering, at tight end, were both first-team all-Big Sky Conference. Snell, who was all-Big Sky the last two years, also captured first-team All-America honors from Phil Steele.
Walker joined the staff as director of recruiting in 2021. Originally from Hamilton, Ohio, he played at NAIA Bethel (Tennessee) in 2008-09 and graduated from Miami, Ohio in 2014.
He began his coaching career at Miami as a graduate assistant, working with receivers in 2014 and defensive linemen in 2015; his other college stops were Davenport University in 2016 and Division III Muskingum (Ohio) from 2018-20, the last season as the Muskies’ defensive coordinator.
Montana State finished second in the FCS in rushing offense in each of the past two seasons, gaining 291.0 yards a game in 2023 and 311.9 in 2022. The Cats scored 39.9 points a game this fall, second-most in the nation, after finishing third nationally in 2022.
Vigen said promoting Walker, “Gives us continuity. We have been highly successful on offense in past years, and the continuity that hiring from within brings for our players is important to me. Tyler working together with (offensive line coach) Al Johnson, (receivers coach) Justin Udy, and (running backs coach) Sam Mix gives our offense the opportunity for continued growth.”
Vigen praised Housewright for his work with the MSU offense.
“I want to thank Taylor for his efforts these past seasons,” he said. “His contributions to our success in my three years has been significant, and I wish him the best in his pursuits.”
Walker will continue to coach MSU tight ends and fullbacks, and Vigen said Johnson would be run game coordinator. A national search for a quarterbacks coach is underway.