Marty Walker, who has served as an assistant coach at the Coast Guard Academy, Quinnipiac and Fordham, is in his fourth season on Rudy Meredith's staff in 2018-19. Walker’s role combines working with the goalkeepers, field players and as mental skills trainer for the team.
The Derry, Ireland, native has both playing and coaching experience overseas.
Walker’s playing career began semi-professionally with Institute F.C. just before he signed his first professional contract in his hometown with Derry City F.C. He went on to play in England with Blyth Spartans - while attending Northumbria University - before transferring to become the starting goalkeeper at NCAA Division I affiliate Mercer University in Georgia.
Walker registered 16 games in a Bears’ uniform, posting a 1.30 goals against average and two shutouts. He made 67 saves in his lone season at Mercer. After that, Walker returned to Europe and again had spells with semi-professional teams in Ireland, England and in Norway.
After Walker’s playing career came to a close, he began coaching in Europe at the University of Ulster in Ireland and Northumbria University in Newcastle, England. He also coached for the Irish Football Association, helping in their youth excellence, elite and youth International programs. Since returning to America he has been involved in coaching at the youth level with Connecticut Football Club.
Walker is also a qualified Sport Psychologist having completed his Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Northumbria University. Walker developed “Train Your Mind” - www.train-your-mind.com - a Sport Psychology Consultancy in which he works with athletes in all sports. However, Walker’s primary clientele comes from the sport of soccer, including players from professional teams such as Manchester United, Celtic, Newcastle United and Sunderland.
In addition, Walker has also worked for UEFA on their licensing programs delivering sessions on the psychology of coaching.
