| Walt McPherson | |
| Birth Date: | 5 December 1916 |
| Birth Place: | San Jose, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Santa Rosa, California, U.S. |
| Coach Years1: | 1940–1942 |
| Coach Team1: | San Jose State |
| Coach Years2: | 1945–1960 |
| Coach Team2: | San Jose State |
| Overall Record: | 264–208 (.559)[1] |
Walter James McPherson (December 5, 1916 – January 12, 2013) was an American basketball coach and was regarded as one of the best at San Jose State University, and former West Coast Athletic Conference commissioner. McPherson graduated from San Jose State in 1939 and played as a fullback through 1936 and 1938 trained by Dudley DeGroot. He became a basketball coach and assistant football coach, he also managed to get his basketball team in the NCAA Tournament which was the team's first time in the tournament. He also taught Carroll Williams and Billy Wilson who also started their own sport careers. McPherson retired from coaching in 1960.[2]
McPherson was involved in World War II and became a lieutenant in the United States Navy. He became a member of San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. McPherson died in 2013 in Santa Rosa, California.[2] [3] [4] He is survived by two children, including poet and University of California, Davis professor Sandra McPherson.[3]