Armed with a surprising contract extension that technically adds to his job security, Danny Hope has now added an assistant he hopes will revitalize a below-average Purdue.
The Boilermakers announced in a press release that Hope has hired Tim Tibesar as his new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Tibesar has spent the past three seasons as an assistant in the Canadian Football League, and a glowing recommendation from his north-of-the-border boss seemed to seal the deal for Hope.
“I am thrilled with the addition of Tim Tibesar to our coaching staff,” Hope said in a statement. “He is on the cutting edge of the science of defensive football. The Canadian Football League is an offensive league – with 12 players per side on a wider field and three downs to get a first down – and features the zone read game that we are seeing more and more of at the college level. Tim knows how to defend that offense, and I am excited to see him bring his defense to Purdue.
“The head coach of Montreal, Marc Trestman, is one of the great minds in football, and he could not have offered a more glowing recommendation. Tim is a high-energy, high-morals guy who our players will really like. He’s a bona fide winner. Our football program got significantly better today.”
Tibesar will replace Gary Emanuel, who was fired after two seasons with the Boilermakers. The past two seasons, Purdue has finished 63rd (26.9 ppg) and 74th (28.8) in points allowed per game, and 73rd (395.9 ypg) and 62nd (369) in total defense.
In addition to his time in Canada, Tibesar was special teams coordinator (2006) and defensive coordinator (2007-08) at Kansas State.