Tim Lester, a highly successful head coach from Elmhurst College, has joined Scott Shafer's Orange staff as the quarterbacks coach.
Lester Selected to Mentor Quarterbacks
1/17/2013 6:53:00 PM | Football
A highly successful collegiate quarterback and head coach, Tim Lester joins the Syracuse football staff to mentor the Orange quarterbacks. Lester just completed his fifth season as the head coach at Elmhurst College, where he guided the Bluejays to their most successful season in school history. Under Lester's direction, Elmhurst advanced to the NCAA playoffs for the first time in school history after earning a share of its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) championship since 1980. The 2012 CCIW Coach of the Year led the Bluejays to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and the eighth spot in the final national rankings.
"I am extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to coach within a football program with such great tradition, from Jim Brown to Coach Mac to Donovan McNabb, as it enters the ACC," said Lester, who, like McNabb, is a native of the Chicago area. "Our focus will be for our quarterbacks to be exciting to watch as we work with them to play with their arm and with their feet, and to make good decisions. Our mission is to put a product on the field that will be exciting for all Syracuse fans watch."
Lester, who compiled a 33-19 record in five seasons, mentored 33 all-conference players, including two All-Americans, and three Academic All-Americans. The 2012 Bluejays posted a 10-2 record. The roster included All-American Scottie Williams, who was the first Elmhurst student-athlete to win the Gagliardi Trophy as the nation's best player in Division III. Lester's career record as a head coach is 40-23, which includes on year at St. Joseph's College (Ind.).
"Tim Lester is one of the brightest, young, energetic QB coaches I know," Shafer said. "He played the position in high school and college and set numerous records in Division I football. He is a proven teacher and leader on and off the field."
A 2000 graduate of Western Michigan University, Lester rewrote the school's record book, closing his career as Western Michigan's all-time leading passer and set 17 school records. Lester ranked fifth in NCAA history in passing yards (11,299) and seventh in touchdown passes (89). The two-time team captain finished with more passing yards than Peyton Manning (11,201) and more touchdown passes than Ben Roethlisberger (84) and Eli Manning (81). He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics
Lester played professional football for the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League, the Memphis Xplorers of the Arena Football League 2, and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL.
Lester's climb up the coaching ladder began at the high school level as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, in 2000. He then served the offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School in 2001.
Lester joined the collegiate coaching ranks as the offensive coordinator at Elmhurst College in 2002. During his two seasons with the Bluejays, Lester's offensive units broke 11 school records and the 2003 squad averaged more than 395 yards of total offense and scored more than 30 points per game.
In 2004, Lester became the head coach/offensive coordinator of Saint Joseph's College (Ind.). He earned the Independent Football Alliance (IFA) Coach of the Year Award after leading the Division II program to its second best record in program history. The 7-4 record marked a five-game improvement from the previous season and the Pumas broke seven school records.
Lester returned to Western Michigan his alma mater to serve as the quarterbacks coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Under Lester's direction, quarterback Tim Hiller earned Mid-American Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year honors while throwing 20 touchdowns in seven games played.
After seven seasons on the offensive side of the ball, Lester was named assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for CCIW-rival North Central College in 2007. The Cardinals' defense finished the season ranked in the top 20 in five defensive statistical categories and North Central won the CCIW championship.
A native of Wheaton, Ill., Lester attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School and was a member of the state title team in 1992. He quarterbacked the Tigers to back-to-back conference titles in 1993 and 1994 before becoming one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history.
Lester and his wife, Dawn, have three sons, Quinn, Cooper and Carter.
"I am extremely excited and honored to have the opportunity to coach within a football program with such great tradition, from Jim Brown to Coach Mac to Donovan McNabb, as it enters the ACC," said Lester, who, like McNabb, is a native of the Chicago area. "Our focus will be for our quarterbacks to be exciting to watch as we work with them to play with their arm and with their feet, and to make good decisions. Our mission is to put a product on the field that will be exciting for all Syracuse fans watch."
Lester, who compiled a 33-19 record in five seasons, mentored 33 all-conference players, including two All-Americans, and three Academic All-Americans. The 2012 Bluejays posted a 10-2 record. The roster included All-American Scottie Williams, who was the first Elmhurst student-athlete to win the Gagliardi Trophy as the nation's best player in Division III. Lester's career record as a head coach is 40-23, which includes on year at St. Joseph's College (Ind.).
"Tim Lester is one of the brightest, young, energetic QB coaches I know," Shafer said. "He played the position in high school and college and set numerous records in Division I football. He is a proven teacher and leader on and off the field."
A 2000 graduate of Western Michigan University, Lester rewrote the school's record book, closing his career as Western Michigan's all-time leading passer and set 17 school records. Lester ranked fifth in NCAA history in passing yards (11,299) and seventh in touchdown passes (89). The two-time team captain finished with more passing yards than Peyton Manning (11,201) and more touchdown passes than Ben Roethlisberger (84) and Eli Manning (81). He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics
Lester played professional football for the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League, the Memphis Xplorers of the Arena Football League 2, and the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL.
Lester's climb up the coaching ladder began at the high school level as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Wheaton Warrenville South High School, in 2000. He then served the offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School in 2001.
Lester joined the collegiate coaching ranks as the offensive coordinator at Elmhurst College in 2002. During his two seasons with the Bluejays, Lester's offensive units broke 11 school records and the 2003 squad averaged more than 395 yards of total offense and scored more than 30 points per game.
In 2004, Lester became the head coach/offensive coordinator of Saint Joseph's College (Ind.). He earned the Independent Football Alliance (IFA) Coach of the Year Award after leading the Division II program to its second best record in program history. The 7-4 record marked a five-game improvement from the previous season and the Pumas broke seven school records.
Lester returned to Western Michigan his alma mater to serve as the quarterbacks coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Under Lester's direction, quarterback Tim Hiller earned Mid-American Conference (MAC) Freshman of the Year honors while throwing 20 touchdowns in seven games played.
After seven seasons on the offensive side of the ball, Lester was named assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for CCIW-rival North Central College in 2007. The Cardinals' defense finished the season ranked in the top 20 in five defensive statistical categories and North Central won the CCIW championship.
A native of Wheaton, Ill., Lester attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School and was a member of the state title team in 1992. He quarterbacked the Tigers to back-to-back conference titles in 1993 and 1994 before becoming one of the most prolific passers in NCAA history.
Lester and his wife, Dawn, have three sons, Quinn, Cooper and Carter.
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