Garrett Walker has been surrounded by both the sport of baseball and football since he was a kid. From before high school to the present day, sports have held a special place in his heart, thanks to the help of his father.
Coach Walker has been the head coach of the Foran Baseball Club since 2013, when his father, Ken Walker, passed him the position.
He was the assistant baseball coach in 2011 and 2012.
In 2023, G. Walker was given the role of the head football coach for the football team after an outstanding 9-1 season by the team.
Although these are both outstanding accomplishments, he isn’t the first to do them in the school. K. Walker also coached both sports, winning the only state championship for the Lions football team in 1994.
K. Walker’s success was not only shown at Foran but also at Jonathan Law High School. There, he was also a baseball and football coach for the Lawmen.
G. Walker grew up following his father to practice; all he could remember as a kid was running around the football and baseball fields, watching his dad turn boys into men.
“I always enjoyed watching him interact with his players on a personal level, noting how they were able to speak to him freely and the comfort the players had in those interactions. This showed me the trust a coach must create in each interpersonal relationship he has with his players.”
Even though K. Walker coached at both Milford schools, “In my younger years, maybe seven, eight, nine years old I would revel in my triumphs my father’s teams had, and I would crumble with each defeat. I lived and died with each win and loss the Lions experienced,” G. Walker says.
As G. Walker grew older, he started to understand complex concepts through watching his father’s high school football and baseball teams. This gave him a head start going into high school.
“From a young age I was able to learn more than just the X’s and O’s of both baseball and football from watching my dad coach.” Walker says, “I learned the value of communication, the value of listening, the value of trust.”
Todd Williams, a Foran teacher and a former Foran baseball coach, had the opportunity to coach with both Kenneth and Garrett Walker.
“They both have a great passion for athletics and are trying to get the most out of those around them. Garret is much more serious and intense, while Kenny was always lighthearted and joking,” Williams says.
Spending most of his coaching career with K. Walker, Williams says “Being around Kenny was incredibly inspiring. Having left my family back in Ohio, Kenny was a mentor as I began my career teaching and coaching in 2000. I looked up to him as he had a great balance of work, family, & coaching. I truly felt he was my ‘Connecticut father’.”
From a player perspective, senior football and baseball player Brandon Marshner plays baseball and football under G. Walker’s coaching.
“Coach Walker is an extremely hard-working and inspiring coach. He gives his players all of the information and tools needed to succeed. He is a great coach because his first goal is bettering us as men.”
G. Walker, about to start his 14 baseball season at Foran, is eager to return to the state championship.
A deep run in the playoffs last season gives the Lions much hope for this year’s upcoming season.
Both K. Walker and G. Walker are admired as coaches and mentors to the players and the people around them.
“I guess when all is said and done and my coaching career comes to an end I hope that each and every person I coached or coached with, or saw me coach can say ‘That guy worked his tail off for his players.’”
G. Walker will return to the baseball field for opening day on Saturday, April 5 at 2:15pm.
