But he was a quick study, became Wichita State's coach after two years, turned that program around and was hired by Florida. He didn't know much about the sport other than it was a lot like baseball. That came in handy when his alma mater, Oklahoma, offered Walton a job as assistant softball coach. It gave him an appreciation of women's sports and how to deal with female athletes. "Those were probably the most fun dates I've ever been on," he said. They'd go to the gym and Walton would rebound for her and drill her passes all night. He met a basketball player named Samantha Rhoten. That was back at Oral Roberts, where Walton was a lowly grad assistant on the baseball team. It takes a hands-on, hyper-focused guy whose idea of a good time used to be helping his future wife work on her jump shot. 482 against lefties.Īnd all that thinking happens between every pitch. It's two-plus hours of thinking three batters ahead, pondering a dozen scenarios, chewing on the fact a player's batting. There's film study, infield practice, batting practice, pre-game meal, more practice. If it's a night game, Walton's day begins about 10 a.m. There are so many games, and the work begins long before the first pitch. It doesn't feel like work, but does feel like I've been here my entire life."Īll sports can be grinding, but there's something unique about baseball and softball. "There are some things that are exhausting in certain ways, but it's been a lot of fun. I'm the offensive coordinator, sometimes the equipment manager," he said. Winning seven SEC titles, two national championships and more than 80 percent of your games comes down to hard work. If Florida softball had an official shoe, it should be a steel-toed boot. He's made winning look a lot easier than it really is. "It feels like 16 years," Walton laughed. On the outside, it might feel as if the years and wins have flown by. 6 Gators are 9-0, and Walton won his 800th game at Florida last week. As Walton enters his 16th season at Florida, it's easy to presume 2021 will be another installment in the dynasty. Louisville is 3-4, so it'd be understandable if everybody at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium showed up with happy feet. "I get more nervous and anxious playing teams we - quote, unquote - are supposed to beat, rather than teams that are ranked or defending national champions," he said. The whimsical look won't match Walton's mood. He plans to break out a pair of sunflower yellow Nike Air Maxs for the Louisville game. You might not know it by his shoes, but Tim Walton will be worried when he shows up at work today.įlorida's softball coach has something of a shoe fetish.
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