Iowa has officially hired Tim Lester as OC
It took a couple of days, but Iowa football made it official on Wednesday afternoon that Tim Lester will be the next offensive coordinator for the Hawkeyes.
Lester comes to Iowa City with 22 years of coaching experience, including 12 years as a head coach at the Division I, II and III levels, and 12 years as an offensive coordinator. A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Lester spent last season as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a press release that Lester is a perfect fit for the Iowa program.
“I am excited to welcome Tim to our coaching staff as our offensive coordinator,” said Ferentz. “His experience as both a head coach and a coordinator at several different levels of football gives him an excellent perspective. I believe his expertise and personality make him a perfect fit for this position.”
Lester said in the press release that he is excited to get started working with the Iowa players and his fellow coaches.
“When you have coached at every level of football like I have, you have a true appreciation for an opportunity like this at the University of Iowa,” Lester said. “I know the tradition and history of the Hawkeye program and I am excited to get to work with the outstanding players and coaches.”
Most recently, Lester served as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers. They won nine games in the regular season and defeated Dallas in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs before losing to eventually NFC Champion, San Francisco.
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Lester served as head coach at Western Michigan University (WMU) for six seasons (2017-22), during which time the Broncos won 37 games and appeared in three bowl games. WMU’s offense was ranked in the top 35 nationally in total offense four consecutive seasons (2018-21), with Lester serving as the primary offensive play caller for three years (2018-20).
In 2020, WMU ranked 16th nationally in total offense and QB Kaleb Eleby finished third in the nation in passer rating, trailing only Heisman finalist Mac Jones (Alabama) and Zach Wilson (BYU).
Prior to taking the head coaching position at WMU, Lester was the quarterbacks coach at Purdue in 2016, mentoring David Blough to 3,352 passing yards and accounting for 30 touchdowns. Lester served as Syracuse’s quarterbacks coach from 2013-15 and doubled as offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015.
Lester was a four-year starting quarterback at WMU from 1996-99, leading the Broncos to a Mid-American Conference championship appearance his senior season. He earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors and was a second-team all-conference selection his junior and senior seasons. Lester graduated fourth in FBS history in passing yards (11,299) and sixth in touchdown passes (89). He set 17 school passing records and eight Mid-American Conference records. Lester was inducted into the Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
Lester and his wife Dawn have three sons, ages 14, 12, and 10. He is also the father of Quinn Isaacson, a 2022 NVCA/AVCA All-American volleyball setter at Ball State University, who has represented Team USA in the Volleyball Nation’s League and currently plays professionally in France.
