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JOHN WALKER

“To work in sports is a dream that’s been fulfilled for me.” A native of Morgantown, Walker was, in some ways, destined to attend WVU. “The Gold and Blue have been in my blood since I was born,” says Walker. “It was almost a non-starter to think of going anywhere else.”

The President of the Houston Dynamo FC & Dash

“To work in sports is a dream that’s been fulfilled for me.”

John Walker is the President of the Houston Dynamo FC in Major League Soccer. Since graduating from college, Walker has worked in ticket managerial roles for the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Oklahoma, he’s worked for the Kansas City Royals, Phoenix Suns, and Memphis Grizzlies in the MLB and NBA, and he was the president of tickets.com for four years. Before all of that, Walker was a student at West Virginia University.

A native of Morgantown, Walker was, in some ways, destined to attend WVU. “The Gold and Blue have been in my blood since I was born,” says Walker. “It was almost a non-starter to think of going anywhere else.”

Walker found an early affinity for sports at WVU, regularly attending athletic events and quickly changing his major from accounting to sports management. “Those guys were my heroes,” he says, referring to the athletes who inspired him to get an early internship with the WVU ticket office.

After a small role as a teller at the First National Bank on High Street, Walker went on to travel around the country, working a variety of jobs that would eventually see him become the President of the Houston Dynamo FC. Over the years, Walker has seen the ticketing industry digitally evolve and take on complex marketing strategies, but his commitment to effective leadership has allowed him to adapt. “To get the most out of people, they have to feel good about what it is they’re doing,” says Walker, underscoring his own professional passion.

Walker has also found satisfaction in his line of work through his ability to give back to his community. “It’s fun, it’s entertainment—but there’s a lot more to it behind the scenes,” says Walker. On top of promoting general health and wellness, the Houston Dynamo FC is partnered with the MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Walker is proud of his alma mater and praises the sensibility and practicality in the average West Virginian, two traits he feels have allowed him the opportunity to giveback. “To be able to share experiences, I think, is very important,” says Walker, stressing that students shouldn’t be afraid to do hard work early on if they want to achieve their goals.


Written by Tristan Moore, WVU '20
*This WVU Alumni Spotlight was filmed in October of 2019.