DeWayne Walker lands head coaching job at New Mexico State

If coaching jobs are like players, UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel's first big recruit was DeWayne Walker.

Today, the talented five-star moved onto the next level. Walker will be the head coach next season for New Mexico State.

Walker served for three years as UCLA's defensive coordinator and was considered for the Bruins' top job last year before Neuheisel signed on. Neuheisel was able to keep him on board for another season as Walker managed one of the lone bright spots for UCLA — a defense that held opponents to under 168 passing yards per game, 11th best in the nation (UCLA was second heading into the season finale).

Walker was already a well-established assistant and heard his name mentioned for head coaching jobs several times. There was a lot of speculation this season, but he always kept a steady perspective and reminded people that the phone hadn't run — yet.

Las Cruces called.

A live news conference will be shown at 10 a.m. Wednesaday (Mountain time) on the New Mexico State website.

As Walker settles into the Land of Enchantment, the next step in Westwood is finding a new defensive coordinator. UCLA alum Ken Norton has seemed like a good fit, but a public spat between Norton and his alma mater erupted this week. The former Bruin linebacker is coaching that position group at crosstown rival USC — where Walker used to be an assistant, as was UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow. Neuheisel even got his law degree there. As they say on Facebook, "it's complicated."

—Adam Rose

Photo: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times