LOGAN – During his weekly press conference earlier today, Utah State football head coach Bronco Mendenhall was asked about his new boss, the recently announced next athletics director for the Aggies, Cameron Walker. Mendenhall had already met with Walker prior to the announcement as the coach was consulted throughout the process of hiring the new AD.
“The process was really extensive, obviously, right? President Smith had a chance to visit with each candidate. There was a search firm. There also was a search committee, as well as there were a number of coaches that were on a separate panel,” Mendenhall said. “And then independent of all of that, I had a chance to visit with the finalists in person.”
Mendenhall spoke glowingly of the experience and background Walker will bring to the position. Walker completed a Juris Doctorate at Arkansas following his time as an athlete in baseball at both Ricks College and Southern Virginia. He’s since held numerous roles across time at Utah Valley University, UCF and most recently at Tennessee where Walker was the senior deputy athletics director and chief strategy officer. His many duties across those jobs included NCAA compliance, legal affairs, facilities, NIL fundraising and working as an administrator for both men’s basketball and football. Walker was also involved with the transition UVU made to the WAC and later was at UCF during its preparation phase to join the Big 12.
“I’m really excited about Cam,” Mendenhall added. “I love the strategic thinking, I love the critical thinking. I love the law degree. I love the development background. I love the various positions that he’s held. I love the depth and breadth that he’s been exposed to in college athletics. I love the transitional nature where Utah Valley was when he took over and what that looked like. Central Florida is similar with their transitions and the experience of an SEC program and all the success that Tennessee has had.”
All of those things together made Mendenhall say he’s “not sure there could be a better match” with this new hire.
One thing Mendenhall appreciated, in particular, was the fact Walker had worked as an administrator directly with football, a role he took on at Tennessee starting in 2024.
“It’s reassuring,” Mendenhall said. “That always helps because that means they’re current on the relevant issues of a division one football program and that means an intimate knowledge, if they’re the sport administrator, and that really was manifest in our short visit.”
