Tom Walter of Wake Forest

Tom Walter is a Division I baseball coach and social impact leader with more than 900 career wins across George Washington, New Orleans, and Wake Forest. His coaching philosophy emphasizes academic achievement, community service, and player development. Every athlete under his leadership has earned a degree and participated in service efforts. At Wake Forest, his teams have reached notable milestones, including a No. 1 national ranking and repeated NCAA tournament appearances. Thomas was born in New York and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His values were shaped during his time at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. While there, he served as team captain in his junior and senior years, earned Big East All-Academic Team honors in 1990 and 1991, was named team MVP as a senior, and received freshman of the year recognition during his first season. After completing a finance degree, Tom entered the MBA program at George Washington University. While pursuing his graduate studies, he tutored student-athletes in calculus, managed equipment for all sports, and served as an assistant coach. That same year, the team won the Atlantic 10 championship and earned a spot in the 1992 NCAA tournament. In 1996, he was named head coach at George Washington University. Over eight seasons, he compiled a 273–181 record and became the winningest coach in program history. In 2002, the team reached the NCAA tournament, and he was honored as Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, 26 players went on to professional careers, including one who advanced to Major League Baseball. In 2019, he was inducted into the GW Athletics Hall of Fame. He is also recognized in the AAABA and Cambria County Halls of Fame. Thomas Walter continues to lead at Wake Forest while advancing the mission of Get In the Game, a nonprofit he founded in 2020 to promote youth leadership and service. The initiative has reached approximately 1,500 students and received national recognition. As he approaches 1,000 career wins, his commitment to education, community, and excellence remains clear.