Joel Walton gave up higher pay and a company car to fill a job opening as the assistant men's volleyball coach at Ball State University in 1990. While he was the head coach in the 2004-05 season, it began to look as if he made the wrong decision.
The Ball State athletics department had tough decisions to make. Funds were tight, and several programs were on the brink of being eliminated — one option being men’s volleyball.
Walton was unsure if the historic program would remain or if he'd be without a job.
“Within the department, I was a dead man walking,” Walton said.