On Monday night, the UAB football program found itself with a sudden, major vacancy. Defensive coordinator Duwan Walker announced that he would be stepping away from his assistant coach position in order to pursue a career in private business.
Walker initially joined the Blazers staff back in 2014, before the program was abolished.
However, he has been with head coach Bill Clark even longer.
Walker has been coaching alongside Clark since 1999, when the two men were beginning their coaching careers at South Alabama and Prattville High School. Later, Walker joined Clark’s staff at Jacksonville State, also as the defensive coordinator.
“It’s bittersweet but I couldn’t be happier for him,” Clark told AL.com’s Drew Champlin. “Personally, you can’t replace a guy like Duwan.”
It is obviously a big loss for Clark, having coached with Walker for so long. But to replace Walker, he stayed within the program and promoted defensive line coach David Reeves.
Let’s hope the UAB staff turnover comes to an end so they can turn their attention towards the team’s eventual return to the field.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports