Jim Walden, a coaching stalwart who had long stints at Washington State and Iowa State, died on Thursday at 88. The Cyclones announced the heartbreaking news of the death of their former head coach in a statement.
Walden’s wife, Nancy, told Cougfan.com that he had to be hospitalized a few days ago for breathing trouble. On July 2, he passed away due to acute respiratory failure. A memorial is likely to be held in August.
During his seven years with Iowa State, Walden had a 28-57-3 overall record. However, there was context behind the losing record. He took over the Cyclones in 1987, when the program was facing NCAA infractions stemming from the previous coaching staff’s activities. That limited the number of scholarships he could offer…