On October 12, 2002 Russell Rogers named Earl Walton to the position of head coach of the men’s and women’s swimming teams at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Despite taking over as head coach just days before the season, Walton managed to guide the women's team to its third Skyline Conference Championship. The women finished with a 9-3 dual meet record and a 10th-place finish at the Metropolitan Championships. For his efforts, he was named Skyline Women's Coach of the Year.
The first-year men's program also made a successful debut under Walton's leadership. The men compiled a 3-6 dual-meet record while nearly every swimmer recorded a personal-best time at the Metropolitan Championships.
Walton is a graduate of Duquesne University where, as captain, he helped build a strong Division III swim team into a highly competitive Division I program. A swim coach throughout college, his coaching education began with a 200-member age group swim team in Doylestown, Pa.
"I had great coaches to learn from - stroke technique, season planning and workout planning," Walton said. "It was a great experience and something I continually go back to for inspiration. Many of the age groupers from those teams have gone on to successful college swimming careers."
Following college Walton moved to New York City to pursue a career in advertising, most recently as Marketing Director at MTV. Never far from the pool though, he has maintained a coaching and competitive swimming life as stroke technique instructor and coach with the Metro Masters Swim team, The New York City Chapter of Team In Training and the New York City Aquatics Club USS Swim team.
"This is what I love to do, something that I am passionate about. Stevens has a quality program that is on the verge of major growth. It is exciting to think of the opportunities we have coming up for this team."
Walton resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. with a loud Sicilian landlord who is always offering delicious fresh pasta and bread.
