Oklahoma State University Athletics
Rob Walton announces retirement following the 2025 season
May 19, 2025 | Cowboy Baseball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State baseball pitching coach Rob Walton announced today that he will finish the 2025 season, then retire from coaching.
"We still have games to play this season and we're going to finish the right way," Walton said. "The game has given me so much, and I'll be forever grateful for the people and the experiences that it has brought into my life."
"Rob and I have been side by side since day one," OSU head coach Josh Holliday said. "What an amazing ride it has been the past 13 seasons working together at our alma mater with the players and staff to put Cowboy Baseball back among the very best. Rob's passion for Oklahoma State - both as a hall of fame player in the 1980s and his contributions as a coach the past 13 years - make him one of the most significant figures in our rich baseball history."
A 2018 inductee into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame, Walton was a standout pitcher for OSU in his playing days. He went 20-3 in 54 career appearances and helped the Cowboys to College World Series trips in each of his four seasons.
He went on to play in the Baltimore Orioles organization and work with the Cleveland Indians before returning to the college game as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts from 1999-2003. He was elevated to head coach in 2004, launching a period of great success for ORU.
Walton led the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in each of his nine years at the helm of the program and was a five-time selection as Summit League Coach of the Year. During his time at ORU, he coached 16 All-Americans, 14 conference players of the year and 12 conference pitchers of the year. He coached ORU to the first NCAA Super Regional in program history in 2006.
He was selected as head coach of Team USA in 2008 and was chosen as a Team USA assistant in 2005 and 2011. His 2008 Team USA squad delivered the gold medal at the World University Baseball Championship.
Following the 2012 season, Walton surprised the baseball world when he chose to leave his successful position as ORU head coach to join Holliday's OSU staff as pitching coach.
In the 12-plus seasons since, the Cowboys won five Big 12 championships, earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament every year, advanced to three Super Regionals and returned to the College World Series.
With OSU, Walton coached 41 All-Big 12 pitchers, seven All-Americans, two Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honorees and 41 MLB Draft picks, including two first rounders. Under his guidance, the 2022 OSU pitching staff shattered the school record for strikeouts in a season. He was voted as the 2016 ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year.
Walton and his wife, Michelle, have three children — Davis, Donnie and Cassie. Donnie was an All-American shortstop for the Cowboys, starring from 2013-16, and made his Major League Baseball Debut in 2019 with Seattle.
"We have had some of the best pitching staffs in the country during Rob's time and the individual development alongside the team success that our pitchers experienced was simply fantastic." Holliday said. "He will forever be celebrated inside these walls and I'm going to miss him dearly. What a competitor, teacher, and friend. His family is also a huge part of ours. We can't thank Rob and Michelle, Davis, Donovan and Cassie enough for coming to Stillwater and making this home!"
"We still have games to play this season and we're going to finish the right way," Walton said. "The game has given me so much, and I'll be forever grateful for the people and the experiences that it has brought into my life."
"Rob and I have been side by side since day one," OSU head coach Josh Holliday said. "What an amazing ride it has been the past 13 seasons working together at our alma mater with the players and staff to put Cowboy Baseball back among the very best. Rob's passion for Oklahoma State - both as a hall of fame player in the 1980s and his contributions as a coach the past 13 years - make him one of the most significant figures in our rich baseball history."
A 2018 inductee into the Cowboy Baseball Hall of Fame, Walton was a standout pitcher for OSU in his playing days. He went 20-3 in 54 career appearances and helped the Cowboys to College World Series trips in each of his four seasons.
He went on to play in the Baltimore Orioles organization and work with the Cleveland Indians before returning to the college game as an assistant coach at Oral Roberts from 1999-2003. He was elevated to head coach in 2004, launching a period of great success for ORU.
Walton led the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament in each of his nine years at the helm of the program and was a five-time selection as Summit League Coach of the Year. During his time at ORU, he coached 16 All-Americans, 14 conference players of the year and 12 conference pitchers of the year. He coached ORU to the first NCAA Super Regional in program history in 2006.
He was selected as head coach of Team USA in 2008 and was chosen as a Team USA assistant in 2005 and 2011. His 2008 Team USA squad delivered the gold medal at the World University Baseball Championship.
Following the 2012 season, Walton surprised the baseball world when he chose to leave his successful position as ORU head coach to join Holliday's OSU staff as pitching coach.
In the 12-plus seasons since, the Cowboys won five Big 12 championships, earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament every year, advanced to three Super Regionals and returned to the College World Series.
With OSU, Walton coached 41 All-Big 12 pitchers, seven All-Americans, two Big 12 Pitcher of the Year honorees and 41 MLB Draft picks, including two first rounders. Under his guidance, the 2022 OSU pitching staff shattered the school record for strikeouts in a season. He was voted as the 2016 ABCA/Baseball America Assistant Coach of the Year.
Walton and his wife, Michelle, have three children — Davis, Donnie and Cassie. Donnie was an All-American shortstop for the Cowboys, starring from 2013-16, and made his Major League Baseball Debut in 2019 with Seattle.
"We have had some of the best pitching staffs in the country during Rob's time and the individual development alongside the team success that our pitchers experienced was simply fantastic." Holliday said. "He will forever be celebrated inside these walls and I'm going to miss him dearly. What a competitor, teacher, and friend. His family is also a huge part of ours. We can't thank Rob and Michelle, Davis, Donovan and Cassie enough for coming to Stillwater and making this home!"
Kansas Game Preview with Doug Meacham - Inside Oklahoma State Athletics
Thursday, October 30
Jacie Hoyt & Jadyn Wooten Postgame - Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma Christian
Wednesday, October 29
Doug Meacham Previews Oklahoma State vs. Kansas - Cowboy Football News Conference (10-27-2025)
Tuesday, October 28
Get to know Christian Coleman
Monday, October 27
