Tim Lester is in his first season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Iowa.
Lester comes to Iowa City with 22 years of coaching experience, including 12 years as a head coach on 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 after serving as head coach at Western Michigan University (WMU) for six seasons (2017-22).
Lester and the Green Bay staff helped guide the Packers to nine victories in 2023 and the team advanced to the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs with a first-year starting quarterback.
During Lester’s tenure as head coach at WMU, 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).
Seventeen players signed NFL contracts during Lester’s six-year tenure at WMU. There were also 42 all-conference selections and 89 Academic All-Mid American Conference honorees under his direction.
In 2021, WMU cruised to a 28-point win over Nevada in the Quick Lane Bowl. WMU, winners of four of six games in a shortened season, 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) in 2020.
Lester’s 2019 squad featured the league’s offensive and defensive players of the year and an appearance in the First Responder Bowl.
Off the field, 2019 was highlighted by QB Jon Wassink receiving the Wuerffel Trophy for his community service efforts and football performance, as well as being selected as a National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete, making him a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, commonly referred to as the Academic Heisman. Wassink was also named the NFF State of Michigan Chapter Michael R. Sadler D1 Scholar Athlete of the Year award winner. WMU had an additional six selections to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society, tied for the second most among Group of Five conferences.
During the 2018 campaign, Lester guided the Broncos to an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.