Since 1994, Scott Walker has been a beloved member of the LT community as a devoted coach and mentor for students. From coaching water polo and swimming to being a fishing club sponsor, Walker has developed a lasting impact on LT in sharing his unconditional support as well as comedic character to students and staff. 

After 20 years in the education field, Walker now says a tearful goodbye as he heads into retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

“This high school is such a big part of me in being the pillar of holding me up through my life struggles as much as I have been here through the school’s struggles,” Walker said. “I find [the LT community] to be no different than a family. This community has meant so much to me, and to be retiring is scary, but I’m slowly learning to accept it.”

In the summer of 1994, Walker received a request for an interview at LT to apply for a P.E. teacher position, as well as the opportunity to coach the girls varsity swim team. Although Walker already held a position at Loyola Academy, the support of LT parents and John Glenco, the previous girls team swim coach, convinced him to take the job. Walker’s successful leadership of the girls swim team soon resulted in him securing a coaching position for the boys program as well. However, after four years in the boys program, Walker decided to retire from high school coaching but, in the end, decided to come back to coach the girls varsity team. 

“Coach [Kurt] Johns, who took over my job for girls swimming after I left, got the Division Chair Job for the P.E. Department, so once again, there was an open position with the girls program,” Walker said. “The girls’ program has been so sound for so long, and wanting to keep the program at the level that it was, I applied for the job again. The rest is history.” 

Walker’s biggest success in coaching swimming is his ability to connect to athletes in a safe and fun environment, swimmer Audrey Cavaliere ‘25 said. He continuously ensures that the pool remains a place of sanctuary, where each individual feels welcomed and has a sense of belonging to the team. Despite swimming being viewed as an individual sport, Walker works to unite the team in celebrating the wins and losses of every race, creating a strong bond between the athletes. 

“Walker has had a tremendous impact on my life in helping me find my love for swimming, which has led me to now swim for [the University of Illinois next year],” Cavaliere said. “He instilled in me a sense of confidence I would not have had in myself if not for his constant, unconditional support no matter the type of day I have.”

One of many qualities that makes Walker such a remarkable coach is his unscripted, motivational pep talks. When talking to his athletes before a meet or at the end of practice, Walker speaks from the heart, relaying messages to bolster the team’s confidence.  

“Walker is a coach that always stands 10 toes behind every single one of his swimmers in the pool,” Cavaliere said. “He is just a person filled with unconditional support. I am going to miss seeing him every day and hearing his dad jokes or seeing him dress up in costumes, but know he is still only a phone call away.”

After Walker learned that he had reached the criteria to retire, he decided that the 2024-2025 school year would be his last at LT in order to make more time for himself. Walker plans on continuing his love for coaching into retirement by coaching youth club teams, and intends to visit his retirement home in Kentucky Lake more frequently. 

For his last season coaching the girls program, Walker led the team into a fifth place finish at the state finals with six new school records in the 500 free, 100 fly, 100 free, 200 free relay, 100 breast, and 400 free relay, finishing with 146 points. As his last year comes to a close, the LT community thanks Walker for his dedication throughout the years and wishes him the best as he enters into his new chapter of life. 

“The message I hope to leave with students is for them to find a place of refuge, a place that they can always go to and be able to have a space around good people where they can reflect, have support, and where they can solve their problems,” Walker said. “Find someone you want to be able to celebrate with and try to hang around people that are better than you. Those are the people that you will become.”