KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan football head coach Tim Lester ranks among the top 10 college football coaches who were the best players on a list compiled by Rich Cirminiello. Cirminiello, director of college awards for the Maxwell Football Club and co-host of College Football Today on SportsGrid, has Lester No. 7.

Lester enters his fourth season as the Broncos' head coach and enjoyed a Hall of Fame playing career at Western Michigan. He was a four-year starter at quarterback from 1996-99, leading the Broncos to a Mid-American Conference championship appearance his senior season. 

He started his playing career with a bang, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 1996. He was an All-MAC second team selection his junior and senior seasons and finished his Bronco career ranked fourth in FBS history in passing yards (11,299) and sixth in touchdown passes (87). Lester set 17 school passing records and eight MAC records.

As head coach, he has compiled a 20-18 overall record and led WMU to a pair of bowl appearances. During the 2019 season, Lester's attack featured an All-America linebacker, the MAC MVP and the league's offensive and defensive players of the year, resulting in the program's sixth consecutive year of bowl eligibility.

Since Lester took over at Western Michigan, the program has produced the most All-MAC selections (32), Academic All-MAC honorees (53) and MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes (13).

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