Bowling Green State University Athletics
Tim Beckman to Remain BGSU's Defensive Coordinator
December 23, 2002 | Football
Dec. 23, 2002
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Gregg Brandon has announced that defensive coordinator Tim Beckman will remain at the University and return for his fifth season of overseeing the Falcons defensive effort. Beckman had an offer to join the staff of former BGSU coach Urban Meyer at the University of Utah.
"Tim is one of the brightest coaches in the country on the defensive side of the ball and I am thrilled that he will stay at BGSU," said Brandon. "The success this program has had the last two years is due to the efforts of everyone involved in our program, coaches and players alike. Tim has had a hand in recruiting many of the people who have helped turn this program around and coordinates a defense which comes up with momentum changing plays game after game."
Beckman, 37, joined the program in March, 1998, as the coach of the secondary, and took over in 1999 as the defensive coordinator. He is listed as one of the top defensive coordinators in the country according to collegefootballnews.com.
"My family and I are very comfortable in this community and like the other members of our staff who have stayed here, feel the best is yet to come regarding the BGSU football program," said Beckman.
In 2002, he saw his group lead the MAC in turnover margin for the second straight year after replacing eight starters from the season before, including four who signed NFL free agent contracts. This new-name defense, which saw four freshmen start during the season, finished fifth in the league in total defense. BGSU also finished second in the league in pass efficiency defense and fourth in scoring defense and in fewest first downs allowed. With his attacking style of defense, BGSU averaged more than 14 points per game off of turnovers or blocked kicks.
In 2001, the Falcons were the MAC's top-ranked unit in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and scoring margin. Nationally, BGSU finished third in turnover margin, seventh against the rush and in interceptions, and 22nd overall in total defense. The Falcons posted two shutouts, forced 36 turnovers and held eight opponents under 100 yards rushing. In addition, nose tackle Brandon Hicks earned All-American honors. For his efforts, Beckman has twice been nominated for the Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top assistant coach, and was a finalist in 2001.
In 2000, he was responsible for guiding a defense which finished fourth in the conference in total defense and rushing defense, and second in sacks. He also served as recruiting coordinator for three seasons. Prior to his appointment at BGSU, the Berea, Ohio, native spent two seasons at Elon College in North Carolina as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
The previous six years he was the secondary coach and recruiting coordinator at Western Carolina. While at WCU, he helped in the development of Willie Williams, who was a sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers and led the AFC in interceptions in 1995. The Catamounts finished second in the Southern Conference in both 1992 and 1993. Beckman began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1988 and 1989. In his two years there, the Tigers earned back-to-back top-10 national rankings and bowl berths as Southeastern Conference champions participating in the 1988 Sugar Bowl and 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl. He assisted with the defensive backs at Auburn while earning his master's degree in education. A 1988 graduate of the University of Findlay, Beckman majored in physical education and lettered in 1984 and 1985 on Oiler teams which qualified for the NAIA national playoffs both seasons. He attended Forest Park High School in Beaumont, Texas, for two years before completing high school at Berea High School.
Born January 19, 1965, he and his wife, Kim, have three children, Tyler, 11, Lindsay, 9, and Alex, 5.
His father, Dave, coached on the collegiate level and served as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League for one season. He also worked for the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers in the NFL.
