Salt Lake Community College Bruins

Diera Walton is entering her second season as an assistant coach for the
Salt Lake Community College Women’s Soccer Program, where she
works primarily with the goalkeepers. In her first year with the Bruins,
Walton made an immediate impact, guiding the development of the
team’s goalkeeping unit. Under her mentorship, goalkeeper Elle Rafajko
earned NJCAA All-American honors, was named to the NJCAA
National Tournament Team, and received the SWAC Goalkeeper of the
Year award.
In addition to her role at SLCC, Walton serves as the goalkeeper coach
for Utah United in the USL W League. Her expertise contributed to the
team’s historic run to the 2025 USLW National Championship.
Walton played professionally for FC Pinzgau in Austria during the 2024
season, gaining valuable international experience. Prior to her
professional career, she was a standout goalkeeper at Utah State
University from 2019 to 2023. During her five-year collegiate career,
she became one of the most decorated goalkeepers in program history,
finishing as the school’s all-time leader in both career saves (339) and
shutouts (30). Her impressive resume includes selections to the
Mountain West All-Tournament Team and the Mountain West All-
Newcomer Team, five Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week
honors, and national recognition as College Soccer News National
Player of the Week in September 2023. She also excelled academically,
earning Academic All-Mountain West honors in both 2021 and 2022.
Walton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor
in Sociology, as well as a Master’s degree in Sports Management, both
from Utah State University.