WASHINGTON – The leader of American University Athletics for just over a decade, Dr. Billy Walker has announced his retirement following the conclusion of the 2023-24 school year. Serving as Director of Athletics & Recreation at AU since April of 2013, Dr. Walker will leave to spend more time with family and pursue outside interests.

“I’d like to thank President Burwell, and President Kerwin before her, for entrusting me with the opportunity to lead the finest athletic department in the country,” said Walker. “I will miss AU tremendously, but I will carry with me the pride I have in being associated with such an amazing group of coaches, staff and student-athletes. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!”

Walker has been at the helm for 15 Patriot League postseason championships and 15 NCAA Tournament team appearances. The Eagles have also captured 14 Patriot League regular season titles during his tenure, and have had 27 wrestling student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships.

In 2018, AU President Sylvia Burwell extended Walker’s influence to the campus as a whole when she added him to the President’s Cabinet, a group of senior administrators who serve as the university’s officers and who report directly to the president.

In May of 2023, Walker was honored by the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) as the recipient of the 2023 Builders' Award.

Under Walker’s direction, the department wrote and implemented a strategic plan, increased giving significantly, and made numerous facility upgrades. He has helped nurture a climate for AU student-athletes to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom. AU student-athletes have earned at least a 3.34 department-wide grade point average in each semester under Walker's watch.

American University teams have had an impressive .517 overall winning percentage in Walker’s time as AD, and achieved an even stronger .550 winning percentage within the Patriot League. 

Facility upgrades in Walker’s tenure have included the planning and design of the future Meltzer Center for Athletic Performance, a complete renovation of all locker rooms, a complete renovation of Jacobs Field with new turf, video scoreboard, a remodeled mezzanine level and concession area in Bender Arena, a completely remodeled Hall of Fame, an overhauled intercollegiate weight room and upgraded wrestling room, and construction of the Bender Arena Sky Box.

Walker was the chair of the Committee on Athletic Administration for the Patriot League, helping lead the League through the COVID pandemic in 2020-21. He has been a member of the NCAA Division I Council since 2020 and recently served his second term as chair of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee.

In 2016, Walker was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Colorado Chapter, as an Outstanding American.

Prior to arriving at AU, Walker served in many roles at his alma mater, the United States Air Force Academy. In addition to deputy director of athletics and professor, as well as head of the Physical Education Department, he was an assistant wrestling coach, and director of the Fitness Testing and Evaluation Division. In 1993, he earned the Academy's highest instructional award. In 2001, Walker was appointed by President Bush as the first Permanent Professor of Athletics and Physical Education. Walker was also the Director of the Air Force Combatives Center of Excellence, responsible for developing and implementing hand-to-hand combat training to thousands of airmen deployed around the world.

In late July of 2013, Walker was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General during his retirement ceremony from the United States Air Force. 

A command pilot with nearly 3,000 hours of helicopter flight time, General Walker’s professional responsibilities have included deputy command of the 89th Operations Group, an organization of 800 people responsible for directing the safe transport of the President of the United States, Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries, members of Congress, foreign heads of state, and other dignitaries around the world. 
 
Originally from Hartland, Wisc., Walker graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1983 with a bachelor of science in history. He was a varsity wrestler at Air Force and a team captain under legendary coach Wayne Baughman. Walker earned his master’s degree from California State University and his doctorate in physical education and sports administration at the University of Northern Colorado.