July 16, 2010

Allendale, Mich. - The Grand Valley State lacrosse team has added Erika Walker to the Laker coaching staff as the first assistant coach in program history. Walker will join GVSU head coach Alicia Groveston on the Lakers' staff, as the Grand Valley State lacrosse team will begin play in the spring of 2012.

Walker comes to GVSU after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Robert Morris, where she was responsible with the recruitment and evaluation of prospective student-athletes, practice planning, film exchange and scouting opponents, along with other gameday operations. In terms of on-field coaching, Walker worked specifically with the defenders, as she helped coach four 2010 All-Northeast Conference selections and three All-NEC honorees in 2009. One of Walker's top recruits in the 2009 class was named to the inaugural All-NEC Rookie Team. During her time at Robert Morris, she also coached the 2009 NEC Spring Scholar Athlete of the Year and an ESPN The Magazine 2009 District II University Division First Team Selection.

Groveston is very pleased with the addition of Walker to the Laker athletic department. "I am very excited to have Erika join our staff," said Groveston. "She gained a great deal of experience helping a new program get off the ground at Robert Morris and I look forward to her bringing that energy and enthusiasm to GVSU. Her proven ability to recruit and her mind for the game will really assist our team in having a very successful first year."

Walker has also worked as a coach and site director with 3 Rivers Lacrosse and the Intrepid Lacrosse Club, both organizations out of Pittsburgh, Pa. Walker is a 2006 graduate of McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) in Westminster, Md., where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, along with a sociology minor. In 2010, she earned her Masters of Business Administration degree from Robert Morris.