WICHITA, Kan. -- Judd Easterling's first move as Wichita State's head men's golf coach: replace himself.
 
Easterling – who officially took the reins this week following Grier Jones' retirement – announced the hiring of Matt Walton as his assistant coach.
 
Walton comes to Wichita from Orlando, Fla. where he's served the past two years as lead coach at Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, providing comprehensive training for some of the nation's top junior golfers.
 
"Matt is a hard-worker who will help us recruit and develop high-caliber players and be a positive force within the Wichita community," Easterling said. "His background as an instructor will make him a huge resource for our current student-athletes and, being from England, we'll lean on his international connections as well as his eye for talent to help us establish lasting relationships around the globe. I look forward to working alongside Matt for years to come."
 
Walton played collegiately in the U.S. from 2009-13, qualifying for national tournaments in all four years, spanning two different levels. He was a 2011 NJCAA Division II All-American at Rend Lake College (Ill.) before helping NAIA power Cumberlands (Ky.) to consecutive top-10 finishes.
 
Walton said:
 
"College golf is my passion because it played such major part in my own development as a player and as a person. The opportunity to return to the collegiate ranks at place like Wichita State, with its tradition, facilities, resources and staff, is exciting to me. I'm looking forward to working with Judd and helping Shocker student-athletes reach their full potential."
 
Walton's transition from player to coach began in the fall of 2013. While finishing his undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science, he assisted Cumberland's men's and women's teams. Walton spent parts of the next four years providing private instruction in Indiana to players of all ages – first as an assistant pro at The Legends Golf Club and later as director of instruction at Correct2Compete. During the 2016-17 season, he also served as volunteer assistant for Taylor University.
 
Walton played his last two collegiate seasons at the NAIA level for University of the Cumberlands in Williamburg, Ky., helping the Patriots to back-to-back Mid-South Conference Championships in 2012 and 2013. As a senior he twice earned Mid-South Conference Golfer of the Week honors and was named to the PING All-South Region squad. Cumberlands finished fifth in the 2012 NAIA National Championship and ninth a year later.
 
Prior to Cumberlands, Walton played two seasons for Rend Lake College in Ina, Ill. The team took ninth at the 2010 NJCAA Division II National Championship. Walton qualified individually the following year and finished fifth on the leaderboard to cement Second Team All-American status. He was also named to the PING All-Central Region team.

Walton is a native of Lytham St. Annes, England. He and his wife, Carly, have been married for two years.