PATRICK WALSH BIO
Since taking over the helm of the Padres in the Spring of 2001 at only 26 years old, Patrick Walsh has become synonymous with Serra football. Walsh, the Padres’ all-time winningest coach with 196 victories, led Serra to a 2017 CIF State Championship and has visited the CA State Championship six out of the past seven years: 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023. He was named the 2020/2021 California State FB Coach of the Year for the Padres 5-0 Spring Season and his role as a driving force in the restart of California Youth Sports which literally affected millions of young lives.
Crediting the core values of Love, Brotherhood and Humility, along with an elite summer conditioning program and the cornerstone of Serra football, day-before-the-game chapel services, Walsh has overseen the most successful period in Serra football history. Under his guidance, Serra has won ten WCAL championships (2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019,2022, & 2023), eight CCS championships (2011, 2013, 2016, 2017,2019, 2021,2022 & 2023), six NorCal championships (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021,2022, & 2023), and one state championship (2017). The 2017, 2019, and 2022 Padres also won the most games of any Serra team in school history (13 wins), and the program had an unprecedented 21-game winning streak in the WCAL from 2016-2018. The 2022 and 2023 Padres completed their 10 games seasons going undefeated - the first time this has ever been accomplished in school history. The Padres went 10-0 against the WCAL in 2017, setting the record for most wins versus WCAL opponents in one year. His teams have set virtually every school and league record for every major offensive statistical category including points per game, points in a season, and yards in a season.
Walsh won the 2017 All-Bay Area News Group Coach of the Year. The 2023 season will mark Walsh’s 23rd year, making him the longest tenured coach in the history of Serra’s football program. Before Walsh’s took over, Serra had only made the playoffs three times. Since his arrival in 2001, the Padres have made it 20 out of 23 seasons. One of the seasons his team was not in the playoffs was in 2015 when the Padres were banned from the playoffs for forfeiting a 2014 CCS Consolation game due to safety concerns, one of Walsh’s self-described proudest moments as a coach.
During Patrick Walsh’s tenure, the Padres have produced countless all-league and all-Bay Area selections. Many of his players have gone on to play college football at schools such as Cal, Stanford, Oregon, UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Oklahoma State, Brown, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, San Jose State, San Diego State, Army, Virginia, Louisville and many more. Walsh, renowned for molding top lineman in the SF Bay Area. Coach Walsh helped develop David Bakhtiari (‘09), who is the Pro-Bowl Left Tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Colorado graduate, Atonio Mafi ('2018) who is the current Left Guard for the New England Patriots and UCLA Graduate, Matt Dickerson ('14) also a UCLA Graduate has played in the NFL for the past three years.
Prior to his arrival in San Mateo, Walsh spent three seasons (1998-2000) as an assistant coach on the varsity staff for his alma mater, the De La Salle Spartans. During his time on the staff, Walsh worked with the Running Backs and Linebackers under the tutelage of the most successful high school football coach in the history of the game, Bob Ladouceur. Walsh had the opportunity to coach famous De La Salle legends such as DJ Williams, Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Gutierrez, Kevin Simon, Atari Callen, and his brother, Nicholas Walsh (The Eagle). In the Fall of 1997, Patrick was a Graduate Assistant for the University of Texas at Austin football program, working with the Running Backs. During this time, Walsh coached Texas legend and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, during his historic junior season.
Patrick had an outstanding playing career in college. Patrick transferred to the University of Texas at Austin in the Spring of 1997 to finish his degree in English, and play his last year of baseball under the legendary coach Augie Garrido. During the 1997 season, Walsh was one of only two players to start every game. Even more astonishing was the fact that he was named the captain of the team, something that is unheard of for a transfer only playing one year. Before moving to Austin, Walsh attended San Jose State University, playing football for SJSU for four years (1993-1996), and baseball for three years (1993-95). Walsh also has a Masters of Arts in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
Coach Walsh played high school football and baseball for the De La Salle Spartans. He is one of the most decorated players in the history of the program and was inducted into the De La Salle High School Hall of Fame in 2011. Walsh compiled over 4,000 yards and 70 touchdowns during his three years on the varsity football team. In 1992, Walsh was named California High School Players of the year, scoring a school record 38 touchdowns and rushing for 2,029 yards as one of the team’s captains. His teams went 38-1 over a three year span, and his 1991 team started the famous 151-game winning streak that spanned 11 years. Patrick was also a 3-time 1st-team all-league baseball player for the Spartans. Out of all of his high school accolades, Patrick’s favorite was being the 1993 De La Salle class valedictorian.
If you want to watch Patrick in action, here are some videos of his high school playing days, as well as his De La Salle Hall of Fame acceptance speech. Also you will find some 2019 videos of Coach Walsh in action with his team showing why Coach Walsh truly coaches High School Football:
Click here for Part 1 of Coach Walsh's De La Salle Highlight Film
Click here for Part 2 of Coach Walsh's De La Salle Highlight Film
Click here to watch Coach Walsh's De La Salle Hall of Fame Speech
Click here to watch Coach Walsh's Locker Room Speech after 2019 CA Regional Championship Game
Click here to watch Coach Walsh's Post Game Speech after 2019 CA State Championship Game
Click here to watch Coach Walsh's Pre Game Speech during the 2022 CIF Playoffs
Walsh was born in Vallejo and grew up in Alamo, California. Walsh is married to the former Lindsay Barnes, a native of Austin, Texas. They have two sons: William (18) and the unofficial mascot of the Serra football program, Charles (15). His parents are Charles and Madeline Walsh. He has three siblings: his sister Amanda, and two brothers, Christopher and Nicholas.