Enshrined: After a Brief Break, Walker Back in the Game
Volleyball and family make a perfect equation
Mike Brohard
For someone who spent most of her live assisting others, Deedra Walker (Foss) finds her life to be a perfect setup. She has three children she adores, a supportive husband and she’s back on the court teaching the game she loves.
“For me, it is so fulfilling to see the joy on my kids’ faces. Before you have kids, it’s all about you and what makes you happy,” Walker said. “I didn’t know you could have more joy and more fulfilment giving it to your children than yourself. I think for me, that was amazing. I love seeing the smiles on my kids’ faces, that’s what makes me so happy.”
As a bit of a bonus, one of the greatest setters in an extensive list of stalwart performers in program history is now a member of the Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame.
The class of five will be inducted Oct. 11, part of the Ram Good Time Gala and the Ram Good Time Weekend. The Gala, which will also include the Ram Good Time Auction, begins at 5 p.m., with registration currently open for the event. The following day, the inductees will take part in the Ram Legends tailgate with President Amy Parsons and Director of Athletics John Weber before being introduced to the Canvas Stadium crowd as the football team hosts San Jose State (1:30 p.m. kickoff).
She was sensational in guiding he Rams to four consecutive Mountain West championships, the conductor of a potent symphony of hitters throughout her time. The names on the pins and in the middle changed. The production and winning didn’t. She was a third-team AVCA All-American in 2014, the same season she was named the conference player of they year. A season prior, she was an honorable mention All-American. A two-time Mountain West Setter of the Year and the 2011 conference newcomer of the year, she also earned the Virginia Frank Award as the best female athlete, culminated by a record-setting career.
She said she couldn’t have asked for a better coach than Tom Hilbert, because he not only made her a better player, but a more mature person. Hilbert sees no better path for her to follow than to help others in the same way.
“She’s coaching and she’s a great mom. Hey, she didn’t always make the right decisions as a freshman, but I think now she’s an exceptional person who leads all the time,” Hilbert said. “And her husband Steven is just an incredible dude. I’m happy she’s coaching. She’s such a natural at it. She’s doing a nice job. She’s out there leading, and she coached Izzy Starck, and now she’s the starting setter for Penn State as a freshman. I joked with her, ‘Deej, why didn’t we get that player?’
“Volleyball comes so naturally and truthfully to her. It’s a funny thing, like I’d like to take credit, making her a better player and a person, but I think she had a natural instinct for the game. The other thing she had was a really present demeanor.”
I don’t see myself ever not being involved in volleyball. The way I see it, it’s my way of giving back.Deedra Walker
Her plan was to play professionally, but when she and Steven, a tight end at CSU, found out they were pregnant with their first child, she put that aside. Then 16 months later, she gave birth to their second.
The Walker household in Colorado Springs is a busy one, with Liliann, 9; Steven Jr., 7; and Trea 3; making the rounds. They’re likely to be found in the park playing some sport or another, maybe fishing. Deedra just started playing golf, and while an ACL injury has hampered her swing, she says she can still smack it around pretty good.
“Hey, still an athlete,” she joked.
And competitive as she ever was. Pickleball or cards, she will always play to win. No matter the competition.
Even the children.
“Steven makes fun of me for it. I’m very competitive,” she said. “We like to play cards as a family, and everyone makes fun of me because of how competitive I get during cards. I do not let my kids win. Nope, you earn that win. I’ll teach you how to win, but you’ve got to earn it.”
Her job doing real estate acquisitions allows her to work from home, but her favorite job has her on the court with Colorado Juniors out of Monument.
Hilbert has watched her coach and can see no better fit for her. He can see her passion clear as day, whether she is leading drills, a practice or coaching a match. She thinks Hilbert is right, once again.
“I don’t see myself ever not being involved in volleyball. The way I see it, it’s my way of giving back,” she said. “I love it, and I want to give that love to other people. I want other people to love the sport as much as I did. I love teaching the skills and seeing the improvement in kids in the course of a month. I love my job. I always tell Steven I love going to the gym to teach lessons or coach my kids. Being in the gym makes me happy.”
Especially when Liliann tags along. She’s already a practice player for the 11-under team. At the moment, they don’t know just how good mom was, despite Steven’s best efforts to tout his wife’s greatness.
They’ll figure it out someday, just like mom had to understand what the call from Colorado State actually meant.
“It was very exciting, but honestly at first, I didn’t know I had gotten in,” she said. “I thought I was just nominated as someone who could potentially get in, so I had to clarify that. Once I knew, I was so ecstatic.”
Just like her election to the Hall of Fame, when it comes to life, Walker is exactly where she belongs.
Thrilled to be a mother and wife, blessed to be on the court again.
“We talk about it all the time. You always talk about, what if?” she said. “But I would not change a thing in the world to have my family.”
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