Remembering Jim Walden's Impact
Jim Walden, Former Iowa State Coach Who Revived Program With Key Upsets, Dies at 88
Key Points
In 1989, despite having just over 50 scholarships, Walden guided Iowa State to a 6-5 season and an offense that averaged 430 yards per game, then one of the best in school history.
In 1990, the Cyclones shocked No. 16 Oklahoma 33-31 in Norman, marking ISU's first win over the Sooners since 1961.
The 1992 season featured a landmark upset when ISU hosted No. 7 Nebraska and won 19-10, holding the Cornhuskers to 246 yards of offense.
Walden coached five Iowa State All-Americans—Blaise Bryant, Mike Busch, Gene Williams, Doug Skartvedt and Troy Davis—and mentored Keith Sims and Marcus Robertson to NFL All-Pros.
Before ISU, Walden thrived at Washington State, earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year twice and guiding WSU to its first bowl bid in 51 years with an 8-3-1 record in 1981; he was inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jim Walden, a beloved college football coach who spent nine seasons rebuilding Iowa State's program and led Washington State to its first bowl game in half a century, has died at age 88, according to KCRG. No cause of death was given.
Walden built a reputation as a program-fixer and an underdog champion. His teams pulled off some of the biggest upsets in Big Eight history, and he sent multiple players to NFL stardom — all while working with far fewer scholarships than his rivals.
Iowa State Upsets Defined a Difficult Era
Walden took over Iowa State in 1987 and compiled a 28-57-3 record over nine seasons. The numbers don't tell the full story. NCAA scholarship reductions left him with just over 50 scholarships — far below the normal limit. Yet in 1989, he guided the Cyclones to a 6-5 record. That offense averaged 430 yards per game, among the best in school history at the time.
The upsets were stunning. In 1990, Iowa State traveled to Norman and shocked No. 16 Oklahoma 33-31. It was ISU's first win over the Sooners since 1961. Two years later, the Cyclones hosted No. 7 Nebraska and won 19-10. Iowa State held the Cornhuskers to just 246 yards of total offense — a shocking result against one of the era's dominant programs.
Walden Coached Five All-Americans and Two NFL All-Pros
Despite limited resources, Walden developed real talent. He coached five Iowa State All-Americans: Blaise Bryant, Mike Busch, Gene Williams, Doug Skartvedt, and Troy Davis. His program also produced two NFL All-Pros — offensive lineman Keith Sims and safety Marcus Robertson.
Those results showed what Walden could build even with fewer tools than rival coaches. He was known for creating a culture of resilience — a fitting description for a coach who competed at a consistent disadvantage.
Washington State Breakthrough Put Walden on the Map
Before Iowa State, Walden made his biggest splash at Washington State. He led WSU to an 8-3-1 record in 1981 and a bowl game — the program's first in 51 years, according to KXLY. That run earned him Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors. He would win that award twice during his time with the Cougars.
His impact at WSU lasted well beyond his coaching tenure. In 2009, he was inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame, according to Union-Bulletin. Before his coaching career, Walden also played professionally in the Canadian Football League.
A Colorful Career Spanning Decades of College Football
Walden was known as a straight-talking, energetic personality throughout his career. His coaching stops spanned multiple programs and eras, from the CFL as a player to the Pac-10 and Big Eight as a head coach. He leaves behind a legacy built on doing more with less.
At Iowa State, fans still remember the Oklahoma and Nebraska upsets as high points in a program that has struggled to win consistently. Walden gave Cyclone fans moments they hadn't seen in decades — and in some cases, haven't seen since.
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