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630-617-3146
lester@elmhurst.edu
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Tim Lester
Head Coach
Tim Lester begins the 2008 season in his first year as head football coach at Elmhurst College. Lester became the 17th head coach in school history, taking over for Tom Journell.
Lester is certainly no stranger to the Bluejays' football program. He began his collegiate coaching career at Elmhurst in 2002 and spent two seasons as the Bluejays' offensive coordinator. Lester's offensive units broke 11 school records and the 2003 squad averaged over 395 yards and over 30 points per game.
Originally from Wheaton, 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.
A 2000 graduate of Western Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics, Lester rewrote the school's record book. He finished his career as Western Michigan's all-time leading passer and set 17 school records. Lester wrapped up his career ranked fifth in NCAA history in passing yards (11,299) and seventh in touchdown passes (89). He finished with more passing yards than Peyton Manning (11,201) and more touchdown passes than Ben Roethlisberger (84) and Eli Manning (81).
Lester played professionally 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.
After his two-year coaching stint with the Bluejays, Lester served as the head coach of Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) during the 2004 season. He led the Division II program to a 7-4 finish, its second-best record ever, and earned Coach of the Year honors from the Independent Football Alliance. With Lester's guidance, the Pumas turned in a five-game improvement from the previous season and broke seven school records.
Lester returned to Western Michigan where he served as the quarterback's coach for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Under Lester's direction, quarterback Tim Hiller earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors while throwing 20 touchdowns in just seven games played.
Lester spent last season as the defensive coordinator for CCIW-rival North Central College. The Cardinals' defense finished the season ranked 18th in the nation in rushing defense (88.1 yards per game), 12th in interceptions (21), 17th in turnovers gained (33), and 18th in sacks (3.33 per game).
Before he reached the college coaching ranks, Lester spent two seasons coaching at the high school level. He served as the offensive coordinator at Saint Benedict High School and at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.
Lester resides in Naperville with his wife, Dawn, and son, Quinn.
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630-617-3264
adamj@elmhurst.edu
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Joe Adam
Assistant Coach: Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Joe Adam enters his second season with the Bluejay football staff and begins his first season as the team's defensive coordinator. Adam, who spent 2007 as a part-time assistant coach working with the running backs at Elmhurst, will also work with the Bluejays' linebackers and serve as the team's recruiting coordinator.
Adam spent three seasons coaching at Grand Valley State University where he was a part of two NCAA Division II Championships.
While at Grand Valley State, Adam served one year under Brian Kelly, now head coach at the University of Cincinnati and two seasons under Chuck Martin. Adam was a part of Grand Valley's national championship teams in 2003 and 2005.
Prior to joining the Bluejays' coaching staff in 2007, Adam spent a year at Western Michigan University as a graduate assistant under the tutelage of Scott Shafer, the current defensive coordinator at the University of Michigan. Adam helped Western Michigan to a 7-4 record and their first bowl game in 20 years.
Adam began has coaching career at Harper Community College where he served as the defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. During his five years at Harper, the squad made appearances in four junior college bowl games.
Adam and his wife, Lisa, reside in Chicago with their children Matt and Jessica.
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dericksonk@elmhurst.edu
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Kyle Derickson
Assistant Coach: Wide Receivers
Kyle Derickson begins his first season with the Bluejay football team in 2008. Derickson will work with the team's wide receivers.
Derickson spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Barrington High School, working with the defensive backs and serving as the team's defensive coordinator. Derickson also coached at Ben Davis High School in Indiana
A 2003 graduate of Butler University, Derickson served as team captain during the 2002 season and earned first-team all-conference honors during the 2001 season. Derickson played his high school ball at Barrington, earning all-state honors and leading the team to the state finals during the 1998 season.
Derickson and his wife, Heather, reside in Naperville.
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(630) 617-3346
grayb@elmhurst.edu
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Ben Gray
Assistant Coach: Defensive Line
Ben Gray returns for his third year on the Bluejays' coaching staff after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Gray will work with the defensive line in 2008 after previously coaching the linebackers and special teams unit for the Bluejays.
A 2003 graduate of UW-River Falls, Gray played cornerback and linebacker from 1998-2001. He served as team captain and earned all-conference honors during the 2001 season.
Gray also serves as an assistant track and field coach at Elmhurst College.
Gray and his wife, Meredith, reside in Elmhurst.
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(630) 617-3249
toddn@elmhurst.edu
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Todd Nichols
Assistant Coach: Special Teams/Safeties
Todd Nichols returns for his 11th season with the Bluejay football team. Nichols will serve as the special teams coordinator and work with the safeties in 2008. He has previously served as the team's defensive coordinator and also worked with the defensive backs.
Prior to his arrival at Elmhurst, Nichols served as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University and at Hutchinson Junior College in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Nichols earned a bachelor of science degree (1995) in physical education from William Jewell College, an NAIA Division II school, where he lettered four years in football and captained the team his senior year. He later earned a master's degree in sports administration from NIU.
A three-sport athlete in his home town of Albany, Mo., Nichols and his wife, Sarah, now reside in Glen Ellyn
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Cory Sanders
Assistant Coach: Cornerbacks
Cory Sanders is entering his first season with the Bluejays' coaching staff after spending the 2007 season as an assistant coach at North Central College. Sanders will work with the Bluejays' cornerbacks.
Sanders earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Joseph's College in Indiana, where he served as a student assistant coach before heading to North Central.
Sanders was a four-time all-conference selection at Saint Joseph's and served as the team's captain for three seasons. He was named the team's defensive MVP during the 2005 season when the squad ranked 13th in the nation.
Sanders currently resides in Naperville.
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John Lizak
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Offensive Line
John Lizak, a 1995 graduate of North Central College, returns for his eighth season as the Bluejays' offensive line coach.
Lizak's offensive line was named to D3football.com's national team of the week in 2004 for their efforts versus Benedictine University in which Elmhurst scored 60 points and generated 561 total yards of offense in the game. His line also contributed to the success of Eric Luna who left as Elmhurst’s Career leader in rushing 3,561 yards. Lizak's line led the CCIW in least amount of sacks given up in both 2005 and 2007.
Lizak has developed three CCIW all-conference selections and one Don Hansen Football Gazette honorable mention All-American, Andrew Cook. In 2007, Lizak was published in an instructional video on pass protection.
Before coming to Elmhurst, Lizak spent five seasons as the head coach at Chicago's St. Bartholomew School. Prior to that position, he was an assistant coach at Holy Cross High School in River Grove. He has also been involved with Parish Youth Football Programs.
A former offensive lineman himself, Lizak was a college letterman for all four of his years with the Cardinals, earning all-conference honors as a senior.
Lizak lives in Chicago with his wife, Katie, and their son, Eddie, and daughters, Emma and Grace.
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Justin Teliga
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Tight Ends
After completing a stellar career for the Bluejays in 2003, Justin Teliga returns for his fifth season as an assistant coach working with the tight ends. Teliga has also coached the wide receivers and tackles at Elmhurst.
In his four years at Elmhurst, Teliga caught 77 passes for 770 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a dangerous receiving threat for the Bluejays in 2003 when he finished second on the team with 39 receptions for 374 yards and three touchdowns, earning second-team all-CCIW honors in the process.
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Ron Tyner
Part-Time Assistant Coach: Running Backs
Ron Tyner enters his first season with the Bluejays after spending time as the tight ends coach at North Central College.
Tyner also worked as the director of football operations and the offensive line coach for the Kalamazoo Xplosion of the Continental Indoor Football League. He also served as the assistant offensive line coach for the Grand Rapids Rampage of the Arena Football League during the 2007 season.
A 2008 graduate of Olivet College, Tyner was a three starter for the Comets. Prior to transferring to Olivet, Tyner spent two seasons at Saint Joseph's College where he earned second-team all-conference honors during the 2004 season.
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Dan Kindle
Student Coach: Offensive Line
Dan Kindle begins his first season with the Bluejays' coaching staff as a student coach working with the offensive line. Kindle started at center for Elmhurst during his junior and senior seasons. Prior to his arrival at Elmhurst, Kindle attended Harper Junior College where he was part of the 2004 national championship team. He earned all-region honors at Harper during the 2005 season.
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Brad Smeele
Student Coach: Defensive Backs
Brad Smeele joins the Bluejays as a student coach after a knee injury derailed his senior season. Smeele spent his freshman and sophomore seasons as a member of the Bluejays' offensive line. He switched to defense in 2007, moving to defensive tackle for his junior season. He is also a part time defensive line coach for Libertyville High School.
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630-617-3149
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Barry Brennan
Athletic Recruiter
Barry Brennan is entering his seventh season as a football recruiter. Brennan returned to his Alma Mater prior to the 2002 season after spending 33 years teaching and coaching, including 18 seasons as the head basketball coach at Wheaton Warrenville South High School (formerly Wheaton Central High School).
Brennan and his wife, Carole, have three children, Joe, Kacey, and Colleen. They also have a granddaughter, Carson, and a grandson, Tate.
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