SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University head football coach Shawn Lutz has announced that former NFL cornerback and University of Notre Dame alumnus Darrin Walls has been hired to serve as The Rock's defensive backs coach.
 
"We're thrilled to add Darrin to our staff," said Lutz. "This is a guy from the Pittsburgh area that played his position at the highest levels of the game. He isn't that far removed from starting in the NFL and that high-level experience is going to be extremely valuable to our football team, and especially to our secondary. If you look at the playing experience of our coaching staff across the board, it's hard to say this staff doesn't represent one of the best in Division II in terms of the experience of our coaches and adding a guy like Darrin certainly bolsters that."
 
The defensive backs position was opened last month after former University of Michigan defensive back Allen Gant left the staff to become the defensive coordinator at West Virginia Wesleyan.
 
Walls played cornerback at Notre Dame and graduated in 2010 with a degree in psychology. He was one of the most experienced players on the defensive side for the Fighting Irish, appearing 45 games and making 34 starts over his career. He tallied 104 tackles, 20 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Perhaps the biggest highlight of his Notre Dame career was a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown against Penn State in 2007.
 
Following his collegiate career, Walls signed an NFL contract with Atlanta Falcons in 2011. He would go on to play for the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions after that, playing until the 2016 season.
 
Walls appeared in 54 NFL games and made 15 starts. He started 12 games for the Jets in 2014 in his most productive season, recording 40 tackles, 12 passes defended and two interceptions. He finished his NFL career with 75 total tackles, 71 solo stops, 22 passes defended and three interceptions.
 
After his playing career, Walls returned to the Pittsburgh area to begin his career in coaching. He accepted the defensive coordinator position at Baldwin High School and served in that role for the last three seasons before moving up to the collegiate ranks with his appointment at Slippery Rock.
 
In addition to his playing experience, Walls has been active in the community by starting the Darrin Walls Foundation, which strives to provide at-risk youth with physical fitness activities and educational advancement.

Walls was a Pittsburgh area standout at Woodland Hills High School before signing at the University of Notre Dame.

He will begin his duties at Slippery Rock immediately and will be with the program during the spring season.
 
 

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