Joe Walker Jr. is the most successful Mississippi track and field coach. But you need to understand this first: He has no ego. None. Walker is an example of this. In his 49-years of coaching, Walker has coached four Olympic medalists and two Olympic gold medalists. Walker has coached many world champions, 160 All Americans and more than 200 college conference champions. Walker says, “It wasn’t about the championships and the trophies.” It was always about people, athletes. My trophies were the people.” He is loved by his “people”, as we will see. His induction into Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame Saturday evening at the Jackson Convention Complex will be attended by many. Walker will be inducted as a track and fields coach. It’s right. Walker should be the first. Joe Walker, Sr., his father, was proud to have coached high school track & field. Joe Walker III, his son and track and field coach at the University of Louisville is proud. Joe Walker Jr. was his father’s track runner. He has coached his son, and for six years has been with him. Joe Walker, Jr., said, “All I wanted to do was coach.” I’ve had the opportunity to live that life for 49+ years. It doesn’t get any better than this.” His first job after Mississippi College was as an assistant coach at Meridian High. He was paid to be a coach in basketball and football, and also volunteered to coach track. The Meridian track team won state track championship. At the age of 23, he returned to Mississippi College as the head coach for track and field. Walker chuckles, “I looked like 12.” Walker won big at MC, and he recruited a young long-jumper/sprinter from Forest Hill, Larry Myricks. Myricks became an All American, a four time Olympian, a champion in the world, and a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Myricks was one of many Walker products that would go on to become famous. Brittney Reese is another long jumper who was recruited from Gulfport to Ole Miss. Reese was accompanied by Walker in London 2012 when she won Olympic gold. Walker was a “father figure” who she described as a pivotal part of her life. Reese is the reason I’m able to accomplish what I am doing right now. He’s still active and has won seven world championships. Walker says that Reese is a father figure to reporters when Walker mentions him. I love her. She is a true inspiration. Stringfellow said to Walker that he was leaving Ole Miss and transferring to Jackson State after a disappointing first season. Stringfellow told Walker that “this isn’t working” Walker said that it was Stringfellow’s choice. Walker agreed with the decision as long as Stringfellow believed he had given everything and done everything to make it a success during his first season. Walker said that he believed Stringfellow was capable of becoming a champion. Stringfellow thought about it and decided to give Ole Miss Walker another year. As a sophomore, he won the SEC in broad jump and finished third at the nationals. He won a silver medal at the world championships in Edmonton and a medal at the outdoor championships in Budapest. He was the highest-ranked long jumper worldwide in 2002. Stringfellow says, “I owe so many to Coach Walker.” Stringfellow says, “I will use the lessons I learned from Coach Walker for the rest of my lifetime.” You should also know that Walker left Ole Miss in 1985 to move to Florida, where he was able to make more money and have a better chance at winning championships. Although he did win five SEC Championships at Florida, he said that it was not the right fit for him and his family. He returned to Ole Miss where he remained until 2012. He left to become an assistant coach at Louisville, which was a completely selfless career move. He left his job as a head coach in the SEC to become an assistant coach at Louisville. Walker says that his son was a Louisville coach. Walker explains that he was going through a divorce with two very young children. Walker considered it. Walker called his son back. He said, “What about you?” He says, “Titles don’t mean anything to my eyes. They never did.” “I saw the opportunity to coach with my son, and I knew that my wife and he could help me out in raising our two young children. He had his Mississippi retirement in so money was not a factor.” That’s exactly what he did for six years at Louisville: coach jumpers. He’s coached 13 All Americans and 13 Atlantic Coast Conference winners. Walker says that Walker has seen his two children grow up into young adults. Walker announced his retirement on May 31. “I’ve still got my health,” Walker says. “I could coach for four to five more years, but it is time to spend more quality time with Faye (his spouse) and do some things that we haven’t had the chance to do.” He says he will continue to train with his athletes, “Like I said they are my trophy.” They make me proud.” Anna Jackson: She won a record number of state championships. Mike Jones: He was born to coach. Archie Moore: He fought more fighters than anyone. Lafayette Stribling: Sharecropper’s son and legend.