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Eastern Illinois head football coach Chris Wilkerson has finalized his offensive coaching staff for the 2023 season with the addition of Jordan Walsh as the Panthers tight ends coach.

Walsh comes to EIU following two years as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Iowa. 

"We are elated to welcome Jordan Walsh to the Eastern Illinois football staff. Jordan brings great offensive acumen and experience from his playing days as an All-American offensive lineman at the University of Iowa, and from his recent coaching stops at Iowa, Wyoming and Missouri State. We are very excited that our tight ends room will continue to flourish under Coach Walsh. Please join the EIU Football family in welcoming Jordan to Charleston," said Wilkerson.
 
Over the past two seasons Walsh helped coach Iowa to an 8-5 record and win in the Music City Bowl in 2022 and the Big Ten West Division title in 2021.  The 2021 season ended with an appearance in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl, ten wins and a No. 23 ranking in the final national polls. 

Walsh assisted with the offense that in 2021 saw junior center Tyler Linderbaum earn unanimous consensus All-America honors and the Rimington Trophy. Offensive lineman Kyler Schott, running back Tyler Goodson and tight end Sam LaPorta each earned all-Big Ten recognition. Goodson rushed for over 1,100 yards and moved into the Top 10 in career rushing, while LaPorta led the team in receiving for the second straight season.  LaPorta would once again earn first team All-Big Ten honors in 2022.

Prior to returning to the Iowa coaching staff, Walsh worked as a graduate assistant coach at Wyoming helping coach the Cowboys offensive line in 2020.  He was the offensive line graduate assistant at Missouri State in 2019. Prior to Missouri State, he coached the offensive line at Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Walsh began his coaching career as the offensive line coach at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Ill. from 2016-18.

Walsh was a four-year letterman with the Iowa program from 2012-15. Over his career, he started 37 of 46 games in which he played. He earned third-team All-America honors by Athlon Sports as a senior and was an honorable mention All-America selection by Sports Illustrated.

Walsh earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition as a senior by conference head coaches, Associated Press and Phil Steele. He broke into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2013, starting all 13 games at right guard. In 2014, he started 10 of the 12 games he played. Walsh started all 14 games at right guard in 2015 as Iowa posted a 12-0 regular season mark. The Hawkeyes played in the 2015 Big Ten Championship game versus Michigan State and the 2016 Rose Bowl against Stanford. Walsh and the Hawkeyes also competed in the 2013 Outback Bowl and 2014 Taxslayer Bowl.

Walsh is a native of Glendale Heights, Illinois, and attended Glenbard West High School, earning prep All-America honors and first-team all-state recognition. He was a three-year starter in the offensive line, playing both guard and tackle. His team won three straight conference titles and reached the state title game his junior season.

Walsh earned his bachelor's degree from Iowa in May 2015. He earned a Graduate Certificate from Wyoming in 2021.