Walker ready to chart new course as AD
(pictured above: Tonia Walker (second from left) celebrates with her husband, children and other loved ones.)
Newly-appointed Winston-Salem State Athletic Director Tonia Walker has hit the ground running.
The 43-year-old Hampton University alumna has spent her career preparing for this moment, having served in various positions within the CIAA and as the right-hand woman of several former WSSU ADs.
Tonia Walker
“For the last 14 years, I have worked hard to push the vision of the three athletic directors for whom I’ve worked, and I’ve learned an incredible amount about college athletics from those three athletic directors. I think now is my time to put my stamp on the program,” said the mother of two. “…Being that person that is in charge of the program, it comes with a lot of responsibility, but I am up for the challenge.”
Walker, who was first recruited to the university in August 2000 as assistant director and head volleyball coach under then-AD Anne Little, succeeds Bill Hayes, a former WSSU football coach who returned to the university in 2010 and shepherded it through its tumultuous transition back to Division II athletics and the CIAA after a brief stint as a member of the Division I MEAC. Walker has led the department in an interim capacity since Hayes announced his retirement earlier this year.
Chancellor Donald Reaves announces Tonia Walker as WSSU’s new AD earlier this month.
“Tonia has done an outstanding job in every role she has been given within the WSSU athletics program and has a wealth of knowledge of intercollegiate athletics beyond our campus,” said Chancellor Donald J. Reaves. “Having Tonia as the athletic director brings strong leadership to the program and provides stability for our players, coaches and staff. Tonia has certainly earned this opportunity, and I am absolutely delighted that she is moving into this position on a permanent basis.”
Over the years, Walker has displayed “impeccable character” and a sincere commitment to helping students succeed that Assistant AD Kevin Manns believes will only elevate the program’s visibility and reputation.
“She has a genuine love and respect for these student-athletes, to make sure that the student-athlete experience is second to none,” he said.
WSSU’s sports teams have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, winning championships in several different sports, and Rams fans can fully expect that trend to continue under Walker’s leadership, Manns said.
“The expectations are high here, the bar has been set high, and we’re not trying to go back the other way,” he said. “She’s going to do just fine.”
Among Walker’s chief objectives are sharpening the focus on academics by raising GPAs and increasing graduation and retention rates among student-athletes.
“Much of what we do will be based on a foundation of relationships; building relationships with faculty and administrators is going to be key,” said Walker, who also holds a master’s in sports management from Old Dominion University. “We’re going to put the onus on student-athletes and holding them accountable … so that they can benefit from their time here academically.”
Establishing new and improved fundraising initiatives and fostering and repairing relationships between the department and former student-athletes and community supporters are also among her top priorities, Walker said.
Walker, who has been married to her college sweetheart Wayne Walker Sr. for nearly 19 years, was a finalist in the athletic director search when Hayes was hired four years ago, but said she withdrew her name from the applicant pool because she wanted to dedicate her time to her daughter Daijah, an incoming WSSU freshman, and son Wayne Jr., a junior at Reynolds High School.
Being an athletic director can be a demanding job, but Walker said she has bided her time, waiting until the right period – in her personal life as well as her professional career – to take on the role.
“I wanted to first be the best mother that I could be. I would have the rest of my life to be AD,” she remarked, noting that her children are older now and more independent. “So now is a really great time for me. My family is ready. We’ve talked about this; we’ve prayed about this opportunity, and I feel confident that we will be able to balance it.”
Since WSSU made the official announcement on April 30, Walker said she and her family have been inundated with an outpouring of commendation and support from the Winston-Salem community.
“I don’t think any of us anticipated the (congratulatory) remarks that came from the community, for my children and my husband as well,” she declared. “Everyone is excited, everyone is extending their well wishes, and for that, we’re very grateful and appreciative.”
While she has enjoyed being in the limelight, Walker said it’s time she got back to what is truly important: making Rams Athletics the best it can be.
“It’s been great,” she said of the accolades, “but I’m ready to get to work. I’m ready to dig my heels in and get back to work.”
