Northwestern football coach Randy Walker, who had lifted the Wildcats’ football program to one of its highest levels of success in decades, died Thursday night of an apparent heart attack.
Walker, 52, was stricken at approximately 10 p.m., a school spokesman said. In October, 2004, he was hospitalized for two days with myocarditis, an inflamation of the heart muscle. It is commonly caused by a virus, whcih doctors believe causes the initial inflamation.
In April, Walker signed a contract extension through the 2011 season, and he often expressed the desire that Northwestern would be his last coaching job.
He is survived by his wife Tammy, daughter Abbey and son Jamie.
“Our deepest sympathies go out to his wife, Tammy, and his two Children,” athletic director Mark Murphy said. “This is a devastating loss, not only four our atheltic probram but for the entire Northwestern comunity.
“Randy truly embraced Northwestern and its mission, and cared deeply for his student-athletes both on and off the field.”
