Ryan Walters joined the Illinois football staff as defensive coordinator in January 2021. One of the nation's fastest rising young coaches, Walters arrived at Illinois following six seasons at Missouri, including three years as the Tigers' defensive coordinator and two years as co-defensive coordinator.

A year after taking Illinois' defense to new heights, Walters has turned the Illini unit into one of the best in the nation. Illinois ranked in the top 10 in the nation in 17 major defensive categories during the regular season, including leading the nation in interceptions (22), ranking second in scoring defense (12.3), and third in total defense (263.8). Walters' unit is led by Bednarik Award semifinalists CB Devon Witherspoon and DT Jer'Zhan Newton, as Illinois and Alabama are the only teams with two Bednarik semifinalists, which lists the top 20 defenders in the nation. For his efforts, Walters was named the 247Sports Defensive Coordinator of the Year, On3 Coordinator of the Year, and one of five finalists for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach.

Walters engineered one of the best defensive turnarounds in the nation in 2021, helping Illinois to a 5-7 record and ranked wins over #7 Penn State in the longest game in college football history (9 OT) and #20 Minnesota, the Illini’s first ever win over a College Football Playoff ranked opponent. Illinois’ scoring defense (31st from 97th), third down defense (31st from 89th), and total defense (52nd from 114th) all improved more than 50 spots in the national rankings from 2020. The Illini made massive gains in the Big Ten defensive rankings, as well, jumping nine or more spots in scoring defense (4th from 14th), touchdowns allowed (t-3rd from 14th), yards allowed per game (5th from 14th), and passing yards allowed per game (1st from 10th).

Six Illini defenders earned All-Big Ten honors in 2021, most notably S Kerby Joseph, who was Illinois’ first All-Big Ten first-team defensive back since 1989. Joseph tied for the national lead in interceptions with five and ranked third in the nation in fumble recoveries with three before being drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Fellow safety Sydney Brown, OLB Owen Carney Jr., DT Jer’Zhan Newton, DT Keith Randolph Jr., and CB Devon Witherspoon were all honorable mention All-Big Ten selections. 

For the exceptional improvement, Walters was named a nominee for the Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant coach. He signed a three-year contract extension on Nov. 14, 2021.

In April 2020, Walters was announced as one of 12 coaching participants in the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches’ inaugural Coalition Academy, a first of its kind mentorship program pairing influential athletic directors with minority football coaches.

Walters had an impressive run at Missouri where he oversaw impressive transformation of the Tiger defense into one of the SEC's top units. In 2019, Walters' defense ranked in the nation's Top 20 in several major categories, including total defense (14th NCAA/3rd SEC – 312.0 avg) and scoring defense (17th NCAA/6th SEC – 19.4 avg.), while excelling as a Top 10 pass defense (eighth in passing yards allowed NCAA/2nd SEC – 179.3 avg.).

Walters took the reins as Missouri's defensive coordinator permanently for the 2018 season, and during the course of that year, the defense's improved play was a big factor in Missouri's 4-0 mark during November on the way to an eight-win season and bid to the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

In December 2017, Walters was promoted to the position of defensive coordinator before Missouri's 2017 Texas Bowl appearance after assuming control of the entire secondary before that season. He had focused on the safeties in his first two years with the program.

Prior to making the move to Missouri in 2015, Walters coached at Memphis where he spent the 2014 season as cornerbacks coach and oversaw a defense that was among the most improved in the nation when the Tigers went 10-3.

A native of Aurora, Colorado, Walters played collegiately at Colorado, where he was a standout safety for the Buffaloes (2004-08). He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Colorado working with the secondary in 2009, and then spent two years on staff at Arizona, where he was a graduate assistant in 2010 before being promoted to defensive backs coach for the 2011 season.

From there, Walters moved to Oklahoma as a graduate assistant cornerbacks coach in 2012, as the Sooners went 10-3 and played in the 2013 Cotton Bowl. He moved to North Texas for the 2013 season, where he coached corners and helped lead UNT to a 9-4 record in its first year in Conference USA and a win in the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl.

As a player, Walters had a standout career as a safety at Colorado. He started 33 times in 46 contests for the Buffaloes, and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press and first-team All-Colorado honors from the state's National Football Foundation his senior year.

A 2008 team captain for the Buffaloes, Walters was voted as team MVP that season by his teammates. He had 87 tackles, two sacks, seven pass deflections, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions as a senior. When his playing days ended, his 20 career passes defended ranked No. 15 in Colorado history and his 223 career tackles were No. 45 all-time.

Walters earned his degree in history from Colorado in December 2008 with dual majors in History and Ethnic Studies. Walters and his wife Tara have two sons, Aaron and Cason.

Coaching Career

Personal

• Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
• Family: Wife: Tara; Sons: Aaron, Cason
• Twitter: @Coach_Walters
• Education: Colorado, 2008
• Playing Experience: Colorado (Safety), 2004-08

@Coach_Walters on Twitter