Bogalusa track and field and cross-country coach Eddie Walker has been selected as the school’s new volleyball coach.

“It’s going to be a challenge because it’s my first time coaching this sport. I am familiar with the sport,” Walker said. “With my 30-something years of coaching, I think I can bring something to the program like the basic skills and techniques and the origin of the game.”

To help prepare himself for the coaching aspect of volleyball, Walker attended a coaching clinic this summer that helped him with strategy, the techniques, the origin of the game and the mechanics of volleyball.

During his 30-plus years of coaching, which have taken place at Bogalusa, Morgan City and Poplarville, Walker has coached a number of sports, including track and field, cross country, football and wrestling.

This season, Bogalusa’s track and field teams had several athletes qualify for regionals. One athlete, D’Sha Rankins, made it to the state meet, where she finished sixth in Class 3A in the shot put.

Last year was the first year that Bogalusa had cross-country. Walker is the coach of the team. Terry Owens finished the three-mile race in 21 minutes, 50 seconds and Kentrae Lewis ran in 23:30. The two finished 80th and 113th in Class 3A, respectively, in the field of 150.

Bogalusa athletic director Ken Martin praised Walker.

“Coach Walker has done a great job as far as getting all of the things necessary that the volleyball coach needs. He and I attended a coaches’ camp that was provided LSU head volleyball coach Fran Flory. It was very informative.

“He’s worked with the girls this summer. Right now, he’s concentrating on fundamentals and getting our team ready for competition in the upcoming weeks. We’re just excited about where the program is going.”

Bogalusa’s first regular-season game is set for Tuesday, Sept. 6, on the road against Pine.