Jim Walden, the longtime college football coach who later became a beloved voice on Washington State radio broadcasts, has died at the age of 88.
Washington State and Iowa State both announced Walden’s death on Friday. A cause of death was not immediately released, though journalist John Canzano reported that Walden had been hospitalized with a serious respiratory issue.
Walden’s football career began as a quarterback at Wyoming. After a brief stint playing in the Canadian Football League, he moved into coaching in 1964.
He spent several years coaching high school football before joining the staff at Nebraska under Bob Devaney, who had previously coached him at Wyoming.
Walden was part of the Cornhuskers’ coaching staff during Nebraska’s national championship seasons in 1970 and 1971.
Following a stop at Miami, Walden was hired as Washington State’s head coach in 1978.
He spent 10 seasons leading the Cougars, compiling a 44-52-4 record. His 44 victories still rank fourth in Washington State history.
Walden delivered one of the program’s most memorable seasons in 1981, when he guided Washington State to the Holiday Bowl and ended the school’s 51-year postseason drought.
He left Pullman in 1987 to become the head coach at Iowa State.
Walden remained with the Cyclones through the 1994 season, finishing his tenure with a 28-57-3 record.
After retiring from coaching, Walden returned to Pullman and began a successful second career in broadcasting.
He spent 11 seasons working alongside legendary Washington State announcer Bob Robertson on Cougars radio broadcasts. Walden also hosted his own Saturday morning radio program.
His energetic commentary, lengthy stories and memorable catchphrases made him a favorite among Washington State fans.
Walden was also known for speaking his mind, and his strong opinions may have contributed to his departure from the broadcast team in 2012.
He remained active on the radio in Iowa as well, co-hosting the Sunday evening show Two Guys Named Jim on WHO alongside Jim Zabel.
Tributes poured in across social media after news of Walden’s death spread, with former colleagues, college football fans and representatives from both Washington State and Iowa State remembering his decades-long impact on the sport.