Tim Walton

Tim Walton is highly respected in collegiate softball and well-known throughout the American softball world. As head coach of the Florida Gators softball team in the SEC, Walton has achieved much acclaim for his outstanding coaching. Thanks to his 1,100 wins, two national titles, and a record of strong results, he is widely considered a college softball legend. He has left a mark on team sports from college-level events up to major international tournaments, making many players and coaches admire him.

Early Life

Tim Walton was born on August 6, 1972, in Cerritos, California. He developed an interest in sports as a child living in Cerritos which led him to choose baseball. In 1992 and 1993, Johnson took the first step in his collegiate career at Cerritos College as a standout pitcher. Thanks to his drive and ability, Walton moved to the University of Oklahoma and kept performing at a high level in baseball in 1994 and 1995.

In Oklahoma, Tim Walton played a key role in the 1994 College World Series victory, as the Sooners defeated Georgia Tech 13–5. Walton won the championship game, which marked his playing career and revealed the great things he would accomplish in sports.

In 1996, Walton graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in history after finishing his college career. After finishing his college career, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1995 MLB Draft. Between 1995 and 1997, he spent two seasons in the minor leagues with the Phillies, helping to improve his skills and learn more about the game.

Career

Tim Walton started out as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma (1999–2002), during which time he developed a coaching approach built on discipline, strategy, and a desire for competitiveness. After that, he served as head coach of Wichita State University from 2003 to 2005, achieving a 123–64 record and renewing the program.

In 2006, Walton took over as head coach at the Florida Gators, and since then, the program has become one of the strongest in college softball. During his time as coach, Florida has qualified for 18 NCAA Regionals, 15 Super Regionals, and 12 Women’s College World Series (WCWS), winning national championships in 2014 and 2015.

Tim Walton has been named SEC Coach of the Year five times, won six SEC tournament titles, and earned nine SEC regular season championships. The teams under Walton’s leadership have broken many records—364 school marks, 27 SEC single-season wins in 2008, 70 NCAA single-season wins, and 360 walks in a single season (2018).

Walton has won 980 games at Florida and 1,103 games overall, which gives him a record of .805 and .785, respectively. In 2024, he was honored with induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame for his great work in the sport.

Since 2019, Walton has helped Team USA secure medals in various tournaments, such as the 2024 WBSC World Cup (Silver), 2022 World Championship (Gold), and 2019 U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup (Gold).

Apart from his titles, he left a legacy of player development: 43 NFCA All-Americans, 62 All-SEC honorees, three Honda Award winners, two USA Softball Players of the Year, and 10 SEC Player/Pitcher of the Year awards. His support for academics is just as important, with 18 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans and over 180 SEC Honor Roll selections.

Personal Life

Away from the court, Walton is close to his wife, Samantha Rhoten, who also played basketball at Oral Roberts University. They have two sons and a daughter. Walton values his family above all, emphasizing how important it is to keep a good balance between being a coach and being at home.

Social Media 

Tim Walton does not have a large social media presence, but he shares meaningful content. With over 12k people following @_timwalton on Instagram, fans get to see highlights of the team, moments from games and encouraging quotes. His website and social media accounts show a straightforward and professional approach, aimed at helping the team succeed as one group.

Tim Walton Net Worth

As of 2025, according to various sources, Tim Walton’s wealth is likely to be between $3 million and $5 million, coming from his coaching work, bonuses and other appearances. Because of his success at Florida for more than a decade, he is still among the most well-paid and respected coaches in college softball.