The list of finalists for the North Allegheny football coaching position was studded with candidates who possessed proven track records.

But one managed to stand out.

Just over a month removed from winning a PIAA Class AAAA title with Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Art Walker Jr. was approved to become the Tigers' next coach at a school board meeting Wednesday night.

"At one time, there were 30-plus candidates for the job," NA athletic director Bob Bozzuto said of a list that included Bethel Park's Jeff Metheny and Mt. Lebanon's Chris Haering.

"All the finalists have been very successful over the years," added Bozzuto. "We were looking for the right fit, somebody who was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. And we feel we got the full package with Coach Walker."

"I think NA handled the whole thing with a lot of class," said Walker. "They didn't approach me about the job until about a week after our state title win."

Walker replaces longtime coach Jim Rankin, who retired in November. Rankin led the Tigers to a WPIAL and PIAA title in 1990 and won 144 games in 18 years with the team.

"The pressure is on me, replacing a guy like that," said Walker. "But I look at it in another way. He built such a great tradition there and I'm just going to do my part to build from that."

Along with the state crown, Walker brings with him the experience of winning the last two Class AAAA WPIAL title and a 61-23 record in seven seasons with the Vikings.

A 1988 graduate of Baldwin High School, Walker, 34, has taught English at West Allegheny High School for the past 10 years and has accepted the same position at NA to go along with his coaching duties.

"It was difficult to leave (Central Catholic)," he said. "But the chance to teach and coach at the same school was a great opportunity.

"I had a meeting with all of the (Central Catholic) players and talked to them about the entire situation. Knowing where we've come from - when I began coaching here (in 1998), we weren't used to winning - and to win two WPIAL titles the last two years, it was very special," he added.

North Allegheny is coming off a 4-6 campaign that saw it lose to McKeesport in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. The Tigers' last winning season was a 6-5 mark in 2002.

"My first priority is to meet all the players, let them know what I will expect of them and what will be expected of me," said Walker.

"Who will be part of my coaching staff, that's all going to be determined in the near future."

Walker is no stranger to the Quad North. His first two years at Central Catholic were spent as a member of the conference.

His 2005 conference foes will include North Hills, Shaler, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Butler, Seneca Valley and Bethel Park.

"It's a very competitive conference," Walker said. "We definitely have our work cut out for us."

Before coaching at Central Catholic, Walker was an assistant coach and coordinator at West Allegheny, Shady Side Academy, Bethel Park and Clarion-Limestone.