Walter Coffey (1876–1956) was the seventh president of the University of Minnesota, serving from 1941 to 1945.
Walter Coffey was raised in Hartsville, Indiana and worked with his father as a sheep herder where he began to grow a strong interest in animal husbandry.
Coffey received his initial educational degree from Franklin College and began teaching in Indiana Schools for six years.
Coffey realized that the university needed somebody to teach sheep raising and took full advantage of this opportunity.
Prior to becoming the President of the University of Minnesota, he was a Professor of Animal Husbandry there.