Tim Albin introduced as new Ohio Bobcats football head coach

Coming off the shock retirement of coaching legend Frank Solich, the Ohio Bobcats announced the hiring of assistant head coach Tim Albin, effective immediately, on Wednesday morning.

Albin, who has been a part of Solich’s coaching staffs in some capacity dating back to 2000, was formally introduced to media on Friday afternoon.

“It is truly an honor to lead the Ohio University football program and I want to express my gratitude to President [Hugh] Sherman and Director of Athletics Julie Cromer for their belief in me,” Albin said via Thursday’s press release. “I am forever indebted to Coach Solich for all that he has offered me and taught me through the years, and I know he will always be part of our program. Our team will provide an unmatched student-athlete experience both on and off the field and we will graduate young men prepared to succeed in life. With the help of our incredible staff I know great things lie ahead, and our work continues.”

This will be Albin’s first head coaching gig at the FBS level, and his first head coaching gig at any level since NAIA Northwestern Oklahoma State, his alma mater, from 1997-1999. Albin led the school to their first-ever undefeated season within three seasons, which eventually culminated in an NAIA National Championship in 1999. Albin, who also earned NAIA Coach of the Year honors, was then hired on at Nebraska by Frank Solich as a graduate assistant, eventually earning a promotion to running backs and run game coordinator in 2003.

2004 saw Albin transition to the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at North Dakota State in their FCS transition year, helping the Bison create one of the most feared running attacks in the country en route to an 8-3 overall record and a #25 national ranking at season’s end, placing four players on the first-team all-Great West Football Conference squad.

Solich hired Albin to the same position in 2005, and the results speak for themselves. Ohio’s offense soared to heights previously unknown under Albin’s watch, with Albin owning 8 of the top 10 single-season scoring offenses in program history, and his players owning most, if not all, of the passing and running records.

Several famous all-MAC stars were developed under Albin’s watch, inclulding Theo Scott, Beau Blankenship, Donte’ Foster, AJ Ouelette, Nathan Rourke, Papi White, Tyler Tettleton (who will reportedly join the Ohio program as a position coach) and two All-Americans in LaVon Brazil and Joe Flading. As of 2020, Albin has been responsible for getting 26 players selected to the all-MAC squad since his first season as offensive coordinator.

“We are so fortunate to have someone with Tim’s experience, character and vision already within our program,” said Ohio athletic director Julie Cromer via press release. “There are few situations where a transition can be as seamless as this one. Tim has been an integral part of the sustained success of [Ohio] football and with his leadership we expect to maintain our competitive pursuit of MAC Championships, even as he establishes his own imprint on the program. We are excited for Tim to lead our football program.”

Coach Albin will lead the first Ohio team since 2004 to not have Frank Solich patrolling the sidelines in an official capacity when the Bobcats travel to the Carrier Dome to take on Syracuse on Sept. 4.

Albin’s introductory press conference can be viewed in its entirety in the embed below or by clicking this link, courtesy of OhioBobcatsTV: