Tim Lester to be new Western Michigan football coach

Former Purdue quarterbacks coach Tim Lester has been hired as the new head coach of the Western Michigan Broncos to succeed PJ Fleck. The move was first reported by Andy Pepper of WWMT-TV CBS 3 via Twitter.

Lester joined the Purdue staff this past season after two years at Syracuse in various capacities, including quarterbacks coach, recruiting coordinator, running backs coach and offensive coordinator. Purdue moved to a new staff under former WKU Jeff Brohm after firing Darrell Hazell during the season.

Lester has been a head coach at the collegiate level twice; once at Division II Saint Joseph’s (2004) and once at Division III Elmhurst, compiling a 40-23 record, winning coach of the year honors twice (2004 and 2012).

Lester’s previous collegiate experience includes two stints at Division III Elmhurst (2002-2003 as an offensive coordinator, 2008-2012 as a head coach), D-III North Central College as an assistant head coach and defensive coordinator in 2007 and at WMU as a QB coach from 2005-2006. Lester also has two years of experience at the high school level as an offensive coordinator.

Lester was a former quarterback at Western Michigan, setting 17 school records under head coach Gary Darnell. Lester passed for 11,299 yards and 87 touchdowns in his tenure at WMU. Lester has one year of pro experience as a player, playing in the briefly-lived XFL as the starter for the Chicago Enforcers.