Tim Lester is in his first season as Purdue's quarterbacks coach. He was hired Dec. 28, 2015.
Lester came to the Boilermakers from Syracuse, where he served as quarterbacks coach from 2013 to 2015 and as offensive coordinator the last two seasons, as well. Orange quarterbacks threw 19 touchdown passes against merely nine interceptions in 2015. Terrel Hunt, who played three seasons under Lester, ranks 10th on the Syracuse career passing yards list. The Orange won the 2013 Texas Bowl over Minnesota.
Prior to working at Syracuse, Lester was the head coach at Division II Elmhurst (Illinois) College from 2008 to 2012, posting a 33-19 record. He was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Coach of the Year in 2012 after leading the Blue Jays to their first conference championship since 1980 and their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance.
Lester previously served as an assistant at North Central College (2007), Western Michigan (2005-06) and Elmhurst (2002-03). He was the head coach at Saint Joseph's College in 2004, leading the Pumas to a 7-4 record (their second-best ever) and earning Independent Football Alliance Coach of the Year honors. In addition, Lester coached at the prep level, serving as offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School in 2001 and at his alma mater, Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 2000.
Lester was a four-year starter at quarterback at Western Michigan from 1996 to 1999. He finished his career ranked fourth in FBS history in passing yards (11,299) and sixth in touchdown passes (89). Lester set 17 school passing records and eight Mid-American Conference records. He was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 1996 and a second team all-conference honoree his junior and senior seasons. Following his senior season, in which he threw for 3,639 yards and 34 touchdowns, Lester participated in the 1999 Blue-Gray Classic.
After college, Lester played with the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL in 2001, the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League in 2001, and the Memphis Xplorers of the Arena Football League 2 in 2002.
A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Lester earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Western Michigan in 2000. He was inducted into the Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
Lester came to the Boilermakers from Syracuse, where he served as quarterbacks coach from 2013 to 2015 and as offensive coordinator the last two seasons, as well. Orange quarterbacks threw 19 touchdown passes against merely nine interceptions in 2015. Terrel Hunt, who played three seasons under Lester, ranks 10th on the Syracuse career passing yards list. The Orange won the 2013 Texas Bowl over Minnesota.
Prior to working at Syracuse, Lester was the head coach at Division II Elmhurst (Illinois) College from 2008 to 2012, posting a 33-19 record. He was named the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Coach of the Year in 2012 after leading the Blue Jays to their first conference championship since 1980 and their first-ever NCAA playoff appearance.
Lester previously served as an assistant at North Central College (2007), Western Michigan (2005-06) and Elmhurst (2002-03). He was the head coach at Saint Joseph's College in 2004, leading the Pumas to a 7-4 record (their second-best ever) and earning Independent Football Alliance Coach of the Year honors. In addition, Lester coached at the prep level, serving as offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School in 2001 and at his alma mater, Wheaton Warrenville South High School in 2000.
Lester was a four-year starter at quarterback at Western Michigan from 1996 to 1999. He finished his career ranked fourth in FBS history in passing yards (11,299) and sixth in touchdown passes (89). Lester set 17 school passing records and eight Mid-American Conference records. He was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 1996 and a second team all-conference honoree his junior and senior seasons. Following his senior season, in which he threw for 3,639 yards and 34 touchdowns, Lester participated in the 1999 Blue-Gray Classic.
After college, Lester played with the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL in 2001, the Nashville Kats and Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League in 2001, and the Memphis Xplorers of the Arena Football League 2 in 2002.
A native of Wheaton, Illinois, Lester earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Western Michigan in 2000. He was inducted into the Western Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.