Lavelle Walker, an original member of the inaugural coaching staff, just concluded his ninth season with the Davenport University football program and was promoted to associate head coach during 2023. He is being tasked with guiding the linebackers and is the special teams coordinator. Walker continues to show dedication to shaping the linebackers into incredible athletes. With a big focus on bringing talented players together for the success of the Panthers.
During the 2023 campaign, Walker's kickoff return unit ranked third in the GLIAC averaging 19.38 yards. The team was also third in net punting at 35.96 yards per boot. The team's punt return defense ranked second in the league allowing just six yards per return. The punt return unit was electric with three different guys taking one to the house. Micah Wilson had a 72-yarder at Michigan Tech, Demetrius Garrett had a 70-yarder against William Jewell, and Nick Pulley returned a blocked punt for 39 yards against William Jewell. Kyle Wojahn had a fantastic year as the punter with a 38.16 average including 19 fair catches and 17 inside the 20-yard line. Brandon Gielow connected on 10-of-13 field goals with a long of 42 yards and had 17 of his 50 kickoffs recorded as touchbacks.
In 2022, he did fantastic work with the linebackers and special teams. Brandon Gielow was named First Team All-GLIAC at kicker and set single-season school record for points, PAT's made, field goals made, and field goal percentage. He helped transform Payton Mitchell from a tight end into a Second Team All-GLIAC linebacker who led the team with 85 tackles. Elysse Mbem-Bosse was also named Second Team All-GLIAC despite playing in just eight games.
In 2021, the Panthers were led by a strong group of linebackers including hybrid linebacker/safety Jalen Robinson who set the single-season school record with 101 tackles and was named Second Team All-GLIAC. Walker also mentored incoming transfer Elysee Mbem-Bosse from the University of Michigan. He finished with 53 tackles in just six games and was third on the team. Mbem-Bosse is also a prospect in the eyes of NFL scouts.
In 2019, the Panthers were once again blessed with a strong defense and the linebackers included Kye Black, who led the team with 71 tackles and was named Second Team All-GLIAC. Sophomore Jalen Robinson
ranked second on the team with 68 tackles and was named Honorable Mention All-GLIAC.
Walker is part of the 2018 defensive staff that had the number one ranked defense in the country weeks 1-7. The defensive staff finished with the ninth-ranked defense in the country and second-ranked in the conference. They also finished with the sixth-ranked pass defense in the country and the second-ranked in the conference. The staff also finished with the second-ranked run defense in the GLIAC. He has had the opportunity to coach players that have received major honors in the GLIAC: All-Conference Honorable Mention (Chad Thornton), Second Team All-Conference (Kye Black).
Prior to coming to Davenport, Walker served as the defensive back coach at his alma mater of Lansing Everett. He also served as the strength and conditioning coach for the team that went 9-0 and onto the playoffs. Walker coached six defensive backs that went off to play college football, with two of those student-athletes being all-state players.
Before stepping into the coaching world, Lavelle graduated from Lansing Everett High School in 2009. He was a four-year starter on the varsity as a defensive back and wide receiver and accomplished a number of achievements along the way. These include multiple all-state honorable mentions, elite 8 (as a junior), serving as team captain, being a part of the Lansing State Journal Dream Team and a variety of another awards.
Walker went on to play safety at Grand Valley State from 2009-2011, where they made an appearance in the 2009 national championship game and he earned academic all-conference honors. He spent his last year playing at Central Michigan University as a cornerback before graduating in 2015 with honors (cum laude) and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and minor in Health Education. Walker earned his Masters of Management degree from Davenport University in 2017.
Walker’s professional experience includes teaching summer health and physical education classes at Mount Pleasant High School and Renaissance Elementary schools. He worked with the summer playground program in the Okemos Public School and teaching various sports classes at the YMCA.
