Men's Volleyball
Walton, Joel
Joel Walton
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- jwalton@bsu.edu
- Phone:
- 765-285-1744
- 403-230 (.637) Overall Record / 193-106 (.645) MIVA Record (entering 2021 season)
- 4th-winningest active coach in NCAA Men's Volleyball with 403 wins, 12th overall
- Led Ball State to the 2002 MIVA regular season and tournament titles, as well as a berth into the NCAA Tournament
- Named the 2001 MIVA Coach of the Year after guiding BSU to a 20-8 overall record
- Named the 2013 MIVA Coach of the Year after helping the Cardinals to a 21-6 mark
- Coached Anders Nelson, J.D. Gasparovic, Patrick Durbin, Ian Peckler, Keith Schunzel, Paul Fasshauer and Matt Leske to All-America accolades
- Helped Jeff Schmitz (2007), J.D. Gasparovic (2008) and Matt Szews (2017) claim MIVA Freshman of the Year
- Ball State student-athletes have earned All-MIVA honors 72 times under his tutelage, including 32 first team awards
- Coached BSU to a No. 6 ranking in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll in 2003 and 2008
- Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award with a cumulative GPA of over 3.30 in each of the last five years
- His student-athletes have earned Academic All-MIVA honors a total of 191 times since 2005
- Worked with the USA Volleyball Youth and WUG Teams
One of the winningest coaches in NCAA men’s volleyball history will lead Ball State’s program for one more season. Head coach Joel Walton has announced he will retire following the completion of the 2021 season.
A two-time Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Coach of the Year (2001 & 2013), Walton enters his 23rd and final season at the helm of the Cardinals ranked fourth among active NCAA men’s volleyball head coaches (Divisions I, II or III) with 403 career wins, owning an overall record of 403-230 (.637).
One of only 13 head coaches in NCAA men’s volleyball history to reach 400 career wins, doing so with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Loyola on Feb. 22, 2020, Walton is currently 12th on the list and has the potential to climb higher during the upcoming season.
Ball State fans have seen Walton’s Cardinals boast a winning record in 20 of his 22 seasons, including 20-or-more victories in nine of those years. His teams have been just as strong in league play, compiling a 193-106 (.645) MIVA ledger.
Walton led Ball State to both the MIVA regular season and tournament titles in 2002, and has had the Cardinals ranked in the top three of the final league standings 16 times. His 2002 squad also earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to No. 1 Pepperdine in the national semifinal match.
In addition, Walton coached Ball State to a 3-0 (30-13, 30-25, 30-23) victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Feb. 13, 2009 to mark the program's 1,000th overall victory. BSU was the second-fastest program to reach 1,000 total wins in NCAA Division I/II men's volleyball, trailing only UCLA to the mark. Currently, Ohio State joins Ball State and UCLA as the only three programs to reach 1,000 all-time wins.
Walton’s student-athletes have been just as successful, earning at total of 11 All-America honors under his tutelage, including 2002 AVCA All-America First Team selection Paul Fasshauer. Fasshauer earned the honor after posting an NCAA-best .536 hitting percentage during the 2002 season.
Matt Leske is the latest Ball State men's volleyball player to earn All-American honors, as he was named to the 2014 AVCA All-American Second Team. However, Kaleb Jenness did earn a spot on the AVCA All-American Honorable Mention squad after his breakout season in 2020.
Other All-American Second Team selections under Walton's watch included; Anders Nelson (AVCA in 2011), J.D Gasperovic (Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2009), Patrick Durbin (Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2008), Ian Peckler (AVCA & Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2007) and Keith Schunzel (AVCA in 2004).
Leske and Nelson also claimed Asics Volleyball Magazine All-America Third Team accolades in 2013 and 2011, respectively, while Kevin Owens also earn the award in 2013.
Among the MIVA awards, Walton's players have claimed All-MIVA honors a total of 72 times, including 32 first team awards. The latest once again is Jenness who picked up the honor in 2020 after smashing 246 kills, collecting 102 digs and registering 22 total blocks in the COVID-19 shortened season.
The 2007 season saw Walton coach Jeff Schmitz to the program's first MIVA Freshman of the Year honor. Gasparovic collected BSU's second-straight MIVA Freshman of the Year award in 2008, while Matt Szews was the MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year in 2017.
Academically, Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award in each of the last five seasons and its student-athletes have claimed Academic All-MIVA honors nearly 191 times since 2005. In addition, Walton helped mentor Justin Orr to CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-America Second Team honors in 2008, making him only the third Academic All-American in program history.
In the polls, the Cardinals were ranked sixth in two-straight polls in 2003, while the 2008 squad was ranked sixth in the final March poll. The No. 6 rankings are the highest under Walton, and the program's best rankings since the 1995 final poll had the team fifth.
A former four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals (1985-88), Walton became the third head coach in program history when he accepted the position in June of 1998. Walton had spent the previous eight seasons (1991-98) as an assistant coach under Don Shondell and helped led Ball State to three MIVA Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Walton's primary responsibility during his eight seasons on Shondell's staff was recruiting coordinator. Over that period, he signed student-athletes who received All-America honors on eight occasions and All-MIVA recognition 13 times. Walton also had two recruits -- Eduardo Ferraz (1994) and Doug Market (1998) -- named to the Asics/Volleyball All-Freshman Team. In addition, two of his recruits - - Phil Eatherton and Greg Romano - - played for the U.S. National Team.
BSU's assistant job was not the first coaching stint for Walton, who guided Munciana's 13-and-under boys team to second place at the 1986 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. One year later, he led the squad to a first-place finish. Walton was also an assistant coach at Muncie Burris High School for two seasons. In 1986, he helped lead the girls program to a state title. In 1987, he coached the junior varsity girls team to an undefeated season while working with the varsity team as an assistant coach.
During his four-year playing career, Walton helped Ball State to two league titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, he captained BSU and led the Cardinals in digs (285), while ranking second in kills (426). The dig total ranks seventh in school history, while the kill total is 19th.
Walton held the BSU single-match record for digs until the 2006 season, scoring 25 in a 3-1 victory at Ohio State April 1, 1987. For his career, he ranks third on BSU's lists for digs-per-game average (2.20). He is eighth in digs (710), 11th in matches with double-figure digs (23), 11th in service aces-per-game average (0.22), tied for 12th in matches with double-figure kills (42) and 17th in kills (897). In all, his name can be found in BSU's record book in 27 of the 51 statistical categories.
In 1986, Walton was named the Indiana AAU Player of the Year and was selected to compete in the U.S. Olympic Festival for a second straight year. He helped the West Team to third place.
Joel and his wife, the former Jennifer Wright, are the parents of a daughter, Kaitlin and a son, Bailey.
- 4th-winningest active coach in NCAA Men's Volleyball with 403 wins, 12th overall
- Led Ball State to the 2002 MIVA regular season and tournament titles, as well as a berth into the NCAA Tournament
- Named the 2001 MIVA Coach of the Year after guiding BSU to a 20-8 overall record
- Named the 2013 MIVA Coach of the Year after helping the Cardinals to a 21-6 mark
- Coached Anders Nelson, J.D. Gasparovic, Patrick Durbin, Ian Peckler, Keith Schunzel, Paul Fasshauer and Matt Leske to All-America accolades
- Helped Jeff Schmitz (2007), J.D. Gasparovic (2008) and Matt Szews (2017) claim MIVA Freshman of the Year
- Ball State student-athletes have earned All-MIVA honors 72 times under his tutelage, including 32 first team awards
- Coached BSU to a No. 6 ranking in the USA Today/AVCA Coaches Poll in 2003 and 2008
- Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award with a cumulative GPA of over 3.30 in each of the last five years
- His student-athletes have earned Academic All-MIVA honors a total of 191 times since 2005
- Worked with the USA Volleyball Youth and WUG Teams
One of the winningest coaches in NCAA men’s volleyball history will lead Ball State’s program for one more season. Head coach Joel Walton has announced he will retire following the completion of the 2021 season.
A two-time Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) Coach of the Year (2001 & 2013), Walton enters his 23rd and final season at the helm of the Cardinals ranked fourth among active NCAA men’s volleyball head coaches (Divisions I, II or III) with 403 career wins, owning an overall record of 403-230 (.637).
One of only 13 head coaches in NCAA men’s volleyball history to reach 400 career wins, doing so with a hard-fought 3-2 victory at Loyola on Feb. 22, 2020, Walton is currently 12th on the list and has the potential to climb higher during the upcoming season.
Ball State fans have seen Walton’s Cardinals boast a winning record in 20 of his 22 seasons, including 20-or-more victories in nine of those years. His teams have been just as strong in league play, compiling a 193-106 (.645) MIVA ledger.
Walton led Ball State to both the MIVA regular season and tournament titles in 2002, and has had the Cardinals ranked in the top three of the final league standings 16 times. His 2002 squad also earned a berth into the NCAA Tournament, where it lost to No. 1 Pepperdine in the national semifinal match.
In addition, Walton coached Ball State to a 3-0 (30-13, 30-25, 30-23) victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering on Feb. 13, 2009 to mark the program's 1,000th overall victory. BSU was the second-fastest program to reach 1,000 total wins in NCAA Division I/II men's volleyball, trailing only UCLA to the mark. Currently, Ohio State joins Ball State and UCLA as the only three programs to reach 1,000 all-time wins.
Walton’s student-athletes have been just as successful, earning at total of 11 All-America honors under his tutelage, including 2002 AVCA All-America First Team selection Paul Fasshauer. Fasshauer earned the honor after posting an NCAA-best .536 hitting percentage during the 2002 season.
Matt Leske is the latest Ball State men's volleyball player to earn All-American honors, as he was named to the 2014 AVCA All-American Second Team. However, Kaleb Jenness did earn a spot on the AVCA All-American Honorable Mention squad after his breakout season in 2020.
Other All-American Second Team selections under Walton's watch included; Anders Nelson (AVCA in 2011), J.D Gasperovic (Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2009), Patrick Durbin (Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2008), Ian Peckler (AVCA & Asics/Volleyball Magazine in 2007) and Keith Schunzel (AVCA in 2004).
Leske and Nelson also claimed Asics Volleyball Magazine All-America Third Team accolades in 2013 and 2011, respectively, while Kevin Owens also earn the award in 2013.
Among the MIVA awards, Walton's players have claimed All-MIVA honors a total of 72 times, including 32 first team awards. The latest once again is Jenness who picked up the honor in 2020 after smashing 246 kills, collecting 102 digs and registering 22 total blocks in the COVID-19 shortened season.
The 2007 season saw Walton coach Jeff Schmitz to the program's first MIVA Freshman of the Year honor. Gasparovic collected BSU's second-straight MIVA Freshman of the Year award in 2008, while Matt Szews was the MIVA Co-Freshman of the Year in 2017.
Academically, Ball State has earned the AVCA Team Academic Award in each of the last five seasons and its student-athletes have claimed Academic All-MIVA honors nearly 191 times since 2005. In addition, Walton helped mentor Justin Orr to CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-America Second Team honors in 2008, making him only the third Academic All-American in program history.
In the polls, the Cardinals were ranked sixth in two-straight polls in 2003, while the 2008 squad was ranked sixth in the final March poll. The No. 6 rankings are the highest under Walton, and the program's best rankings since the 1995 final poll had the team fifth.
A former four-year letterwinner for the Cardinals (1985-88), Walton became the third head coach in program history when he accepted the position in June of 1998. Walton had spent the previous eight seasons (1991-98) as an assistant coach under Don Shondell and helped led Ball State to three MIVA Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Walton's primary responsibility during his eight seasons on Shondell's staff was recruiting coordinator. Over that period, he signed student-athletes who received All-America honors on eight occasions and All-MIVA recognition 13 times. Walton also had two recruits -- Eduardo Ferraz (1994) and Doug Market (1998) -- named to the Asics/Volleyball All-Freshman Team. In addition, two of his recruits - - Phil Eatherton and Greg Romano - - played for the U.S. National Team.
BSU's assistant job was not the first coaching stint for Walton, who guided Munciana's 13-and-under boys team to second place at the 1986 Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics. One year later, he led the squad to a first-place finish. Walton was also an assistant coach at Muncie Burris High School for two seasons. In 1986, he helped lead the girls program to a state title. In 1987, he coached the junior varsity girls team to an undefeated season while working with the varsity team as an assistant coach.
During his four-year playing career, Walton helped Ball State to two league titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. As a senior, he captained BSU and led the Cardinals in digs (285), while ranking second in kills (426). The dig total ranks seventh in school history, while the kill total is 19th.
Walton held the BSU single-match record for digs until the 2006 season, scoring 25 in a 3-1 victory at Ohio State April 1, 1987. For his career, he ranks third on BSU's lists for digs-per-game average (2.20). He is eighth in digs (710), 11th in matches with double-figure digs (23), 11th in service aces-per-game average (0.22), tied for 12th in matches with double-figure kills (42) and 17th in kills (897). In all, his name can be found in BSU's record book in 27 of the 51 statistical categories.
In 1986, Walton was named the Indiana AAU Player of the Year and was selected to compete in the U.S. Olympic Festival for a second straight year. He helped the West Team to third place.
Joel and his wife, the former Jennifer Wright, are the parents of a daughter, Kaitlin and a son, Bailey.
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