Tim Tibesar - Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Tim Tibesar

Title:
Defensive Coordinator | Linebackers
Email:
Phone:
(330) 972-7466

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Tim Tibesar is in his second season as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for University of Akron head coach Joe Moorhead in 2023.

Tibesar came to Akron after working four seasons at Oregon State as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. During his tenure the Beavers’ defense improved from allowing 43.0 points per game in 2017 (year prior to his arrival) to 25.9 points per game in 2021. Tibesar helped Oregon State return to respectability and competitiveness as the Beavers earned a bowl invitation in 2021 for the first time since 2013.

In 2019, Tibesar tutored the Beavers’ outside linebacker Hamilcar Rashed Jr to consensus All-America honors as he led the nation in TFLs (22.5) and set an Oregon State single-season record with 14 sacks. After the 2020 season, Rashed went on to the NFL with the New York Jets.

The Beavers’ defensive unit ranked 14th nationally in 2021 with 15 interceptions. Avery Roberts (128) and Omar Speights (89), who earned Freshman All-America honors in 2019, finished first and eighth, respectively, in the Pac-12 in tackles.

Tibesar came to Corvalis after serving as the outside linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator (2017) at Wisconsin for three seasons (2015-17). Tibesar made a memorable impression during his time in Madison, a run that saw five of his pupils selected in the NFL draft and via free agency.

The Badgers’ defense ranked among the nation’s best during Tibesar’s tenure as Wisconsin allowed an average of just 14.2 points per game over his three seasons, ranking No. 2 nationally in scoring defense, trailing only Alabama (14.1 ppg). The Badgers also ranked No. 3 in rushing defense (97.1 ypg) and in pass efficiency defense (102.1) and No. 4 in total defense (285.6 ypg) over the course of his time in Madison.

Tibesar's edge rushers factored greatly into that success, with a trio of draft picks leading the way. T.J. Watt, the 2020 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, while his teammate, Vince Biegel, was a fourth-round selection of the Green Bay Packers. That came on the heels of Joe Schobert being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2016. Watt and Schobert both earned first-team All-America honors in their final seasons as Badgers.

In 2017 outside linebackers Garret Dooley and Leon Jacobs both went on the earn All-Big Ten honors with Jacobs being drafted by Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 and Dooley signing a free agent contract with Minnesota Vikings that same spring.

Wisconsin went a combined 34-7 during Tibesar's three seasons on staff, including posting the first undefeated 12-0 regular season in program history en route to concluding the year with 13 victories. The Badgers claimed the 2016 and 2017 Big Ten West Division titles and a trio of bowl game victories in the Holiday Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl.

After 2015 season Tibesar shared FootballScoop Linebackers Coach of the Year honors with former Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda for his part in helping build the nation’s top defense.

In 2014, he served as a defensive consultant with the Northwestern football program following one campaign working leading the linebackers with the Chicago Bears.

Prior to his time in Chicago, Tibesar spent the 2012 campaign as the defensive coordinator at Purdue, where the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in interceptions, forced fumbles and takeaways en route to appearing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

Tibesar spent three campaigns working with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League from 2009-11, where the Alouettes captured the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cup title. Tibesar was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 2011 season after spending the previous two years as the linebacker coach. During his time in Montreal, the Alouettes’ defensive unit ranked first in 22 of the league's 26 categories, including allowing the second-fewest points per game in modern CFL history.

Tibesar arrived in Montreal following a successful three-year run at Kansas State where he ran the special teams in 2006 before being named defensive coordinator for the Wildcats during the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. Under his direction in 2007, the Wildcats’ defense ranked among the Big XII’s best in sacks and turnover margin, while tutoring six players who went on to earn All-Big XII honors. In 2006, Kansas State led the country in kickoff return average and special teams touchdowns (7).

A 1995 summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Dakota, he returned to his alma mater in 2001 as the program’s inside-linebackers coach. During his five years as linebackers coach, Tibesar coached three North Central Conference Most Valuable Linebacker award winners; Travis O’Neel in 2001 and Digger Anderson in 2003 and 2005.

In 2004, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and proceeded to assemble a unit that ranked first in the North Central Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and quarterback sacks over the next two seasons. North Dakota was also consistently ranked among the national leaders defensively during his tenure and, in 2004, led all of Division II in scoring defense after yielding just 10.8 points per game.

Tibesar joined the staff at North Dakota after spending one season as tight ends coach at Cornell University in 2000. Prior to that he served as a graduate assistant/assistant offensive line coach at the University of California Berkeley in 1999, linebacker coach at Grossmont College (Calif.) in 1998 and student assistant at San Diego State University from 1997-1998.

A standout linebacker at the University of North Dakota from 1993 to 1996, he served as a team captain in 1995 and 1996. A three-time All-NCC performer and the 1996 NCC Most Valuable Linebacker, he earned multiple First-Team All-America honors in 1996 and was named a Football Gazette Third-Team All-American in 1995. He was also earned Academic All-America honors in 1996 and received a 1996 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholarship Award. During his playing career, Tibesar helped North Dakota to NCC titles and NCAA playoff appearances in 1993, 1994 and 1995 as the Fighting Sioux posted a 36-11 record during his four years in the program.

Tibesar graduated from North Dakota with a 4.0 grade-point average in 1996 earning a bachelor’s degree in business economics with a minor in coaching. He then earned a master’s degree in business administration from San Diego State in 1998.

A native of St. Paul, Minn., Tibesar and his wife, Jill, have one daughter; Elle.

3-8-22