Kalamazoo, Mich. - Following an eight-win season, including the second bowl victory in program history, Western Michigan University Athletics and Head Football Coach Tim Lester have agreed on a two-year contract extension through the 2025 football season. Western Michigan Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae announced the extension and added that for every eight-win season moving forward, Coach Lester's contract would be extended for an additional year.
 
"Tim Lester has represented Western Michigan University in a first class manner as a student-athlete, alum, and as our head football coach," said Bartholomae. "I look forward to working hand-in-hand with him as we build off a strong season and an exciting post-season finish. With an excellent foundation in place, I am excited to partner with the leader of our football program who shares a commitment to integrity, the student-athlete experience, and championship expectations."
 
During the 2021 season, Lester guided the Broncos to a 44-41 win over power five opponent Pitt the eventual champion of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Broncos also defeated Mid-American Conference Champion Northern Illinois, 42-21, MAC East Division Champion Kent State, 64-31, and 2020 Mountain West Champion San Jose State, 23-3. The season culminated with the second bowl win in Western Michigan history and the first on American soil as the Broncos destroyed Nevada in the 2021 Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, 52-24. The Broncos racked up 514 total yards including 352 yards rushing, a program bowl record for both points and rushing yards, while holding Nevada to only 242 yards. Between offense and defense the Broncos led the MAC in eight different statistical categories and were second in five other categories.  
 
"I am thrilled and grateful to agree to a two-year contract extension with Western Michigan University which is so special to me," said Lester. "I would like to thank Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae for his trust in me and my coaching staff. This allows us to continue the program's growth and to push the program to number F.O.U.R." Lester added, "We look forward to continued success on the field and in the classroom and to the opportunities we will have to help our student-athletes grow. Let's Ride."
 
Under Coach Lester, Western Michigan finished second in the MAC in total offense in 2021 averaging 467.7 yards per game, paced the league in offensive efficiency and finished fourth in the FBS in time of possession. Defensively, the Broncos led the conference in total defense giving up just 330.8 yards per game. The Bronco defense was number one in the MAC and fourth in the nation in sacks with 43, and second in the FBS in opponents third down conversions at 26.8 percent.
 
Individually in 2021, Bronco quarterback Kaleb Eleby led the MAC with 3,277 passing yards while receiver Skyy Moore finished second in the conference with 1,292 receiving yards and second in the MAC in receptions with 95. Defensive End Ali Fayad led the MAC in both tackles for loss and sacks and was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive Tackle Ralph Holley was second in the conference in tackles for loss while cornerback Dorian Jackson finished second in the conference in passes defended.
 
Off the field in 2021, center Mike Caliendo was named a finalist for the prestigious Campbell Trophy known as the "Academic Heisman" of college football.  Caliendo was also named a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy for his on the field performance, academic success, and off the field contributions in the community.
 
Lester was named the 16^th head football coach in school history on January 13, 2017 moving up through the coaching ranks following his Hall of Fame playing career at Western Michigan. A four-year starter at quarterback from 1996-1999, Lester led the Broncos to a MAC West Division Title and an appearance in the 1999 MAC Championship Game. The Wheaton, Illinois native has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Western Michigan and was inducted into the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.   
 
During his tenure at Western Michigan, Coach Lester has never had a losing season and has a five-year career win loss record of 32-25 (.614). He led the Broncos to an historic seven-overtime victory at Buffalo in 2017 and featured the FBS career leader in career return touchdowns, Darius Phillips with 12 including a 100 yard return for a score in Coach Lester's first game as head coach at USC and another 100 yard return the following week at Michigan State. Phillips went on to earn 2019 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors. In 2018 Coach Lester's squad fashioned a six game winning streak that led to an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, his first of three bowl appearances as the Broncos head coach.
 
Lester guided the Broncos to a second place finish in the MAC West in 2019 and capped the season with a bid to the First Responders Bowl in Dallas. That 2019 team featured the nation's leader in rushing touchdowns with 23, LeVante Bellamy, who was named MAC Most Valuable Player and MAC Offensive Player of the Year. Lester's 2019 defense was anchored by the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Second Team All-American Linebacker Treshaun Hayward.  Off the field, quarterback Jon Wassink was named the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy winner.
 
During the pandemic shortened 2020 season, Coach Lester directed the Broncos to a four game winning streak out of the gate and another second place MAC West Division finish. The season included a dramatic late fourth quarter come from behind 41-38 victory over Toledo in a nationally televised mid-week MACtion game at Waldo Stadium and a 52-44 road win over arch rival Central Michigan, Lester's third consecutive victory over CMU.  Under Coach Lester, first year starting signal caller Kaleb Eleby ended the 2020 season ranked third in the FBS in passing efficiency behind only two eventual first round NFL draft picks Zach Wilson (Jets) and Mac Jones (Patriots).  Two of Coach Lester's players were selected in the 2021 NFL draft as D'Wayne Eskridge was selected in the second round by the Seattle Seahawks and Jaylon Moore went in the fifth round to the San Francisco 49ers.

Coach Tim Lester Era by the Numbers
1 Wuerffel Trophy winner (Jon Wassink)
1 NFF Michigan Scholar Athlete of the Year (Jon Wassink)
1 NCAA National Sportsmanship Team Award Winner (2017)
1 MAC Player of the Year (LeVante Bellamy)
1 Consensus All-America Selection (Chukwuma Okorafor)
1 Academic All-American (Mike Caliendo)
1 Freshman All-American (Jayden Reed)
2 MAC Defensive Players of the Year (Treshaun Hayward & Ali Fayad)
2 MAC Special Teams Players of the Year (Darius Phillips & D'Wayne Eskridge)
2 Campbell Trophy Finalists (Jon Wassink & Mike Caliendo)
2^nd Bowl win in program history (52-24 over Nevada 2021 Quick Lane Bowl)
3 Bowl Appearances (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, First Responders Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl)
3 Wins over rival Central Michigan
3.02 Football Team GPA (Fall 2021)
3.05 Football Team GPA (Fall 2018)
3.11 Football Team GPA (Spring 2020)
4 All-American Selections (Okorafor, Pfeifer, Hayward, Eskridge)
4^th FBS Total Sacks (2021)
5 Consecutive Bowl Eligible Seasons (First time in program history)
5 NFL Draft Picks (Okorafor, Phillips, Beal, Eskridge, Moore)
12^th FBS Total Offense in 2021
14 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes
16^th FBS Total Offense in 2020
18^th FBS Total Defense in 2021
25^th FBS Total Offense in 2019
35.25 Points Per Game Scoring Average (2017-2021)
51 All-MAC Selections
70.4 Second Highest Waldo Stadium Winning Percentage in Program History
89 All-MAC Academic Selections