Skip To Main Content

University of Guelph Athletics

Mark Walton Head Shot

Mark Walton

After six seasons as head coach of the women's basketball program at the University of Guelph (2016-17 to 2021-22), Mark Walton announced his retirement from coaching following the 2021-22 season. For the 2022-23 OUA women's basketball season, Coach Walton will remain a key part of head coach Megan Reid's staff in his role as the Gryphons recruiting coordinator. 

Prior to returning to his alma mater to take over head coachin duties for the 2016-17, Coach Walton had served as an assistant coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of New Hampshire (NCAA Division 1) in 2010-11. In that role Walton was responsible for player development, recruiting from Canada and Europe and tactical advice.
 
A proven leader in the coaching world he has consulted and mentored a number of coaches at the D1 level and assisted coaches and players from a number of local programs as well as Ontario Basketball and Canada Basketball.

Walton served as the head coach for Canada Basketball’s National Elite Development Academy (NEDA) girls’ team for two years from 2007 to 2009. During his tenure, the team became the first Canadian team to go undefeated on an international tour in France during March 2009. Additionally, a number of player’s he’s worked with have gone on to play for the Canadian National Team that will compete at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games including Natalie Achonwa, Michelle Plouffe and Katherine Plouffe.
 
Walton began his coaching and teaching career at Cathedral High School in Hamilton, Ont. He taught at Cathedral for 29 years and was the senior boys’ basketball coach for 27 seasons, posting a 723-86 overall record and an impressive 100% graduation rate. During that period, he guided Cathedral to three  OFSAA championships (1984, ’94 and ’98), after going undefeated and garnering the No. 1 ranking in the country in each of those three seasons.
 
He served as a teacher from 1972-2001, specializing in English, Law, Special and Physical education. He was the head of the Special Education department from 1976 to 1981 and then the head of the Cooperative Education department from 1982 to 2001.  
 
No stranger to Guelph, Walton lettered three years for the Gryphons, earning his bachelors in 1972 and was inducted into the University of Guelph Hall of Fame in 1985. He was named an OUAA All-Star and team MVP during both his second and third years.
 
Walton has been a guest clinician/speaker throughout Canada and the United States, featured at Penn State Men’s Coaching Clinic, Syracuse University and Canisius College. He is the founder and director of Metro Basketball Camp Inc., Canada’s first basketball day camp since 1984 and The Coaching Clinic, an international bi-annual coaching clinic for male and female coaches from 1988-2003; then revived in 2013.