Cubit Begins To Assemble Coaching Staff

KALAMAZOO -- New Western Michigan University head football coach Bill Cubit, named to the position on Dec. 7, has wasted little time in assembling his coaching staff for the 2005 campaign.

Former Bronco standouts Tim Lester (quarterbacks) and Jake Moreland (tight ends) are returning to the University as members of the coaching staff, while Brian Rock (special teams) and Tim Knox (Director of Football Operations) are remaining with the team in new roles.

“Each of these individuals wants to be here and understands what needs to be done to get the Broncos back to where they need to be,” Cubit said.

Lester, WMU’s all-time leading passer (1996-99) who remains fifth in NCAA history in passing yards (11,299) and seventh in touchdowns (89), recently guided Saint Joseph’s College (NCAA Division II) to its second-best record in school history. In his first season as head coach (2004), Lester mentored the program to a 7-4 record, which was a significant five-game improvement from the previous season. Lester’s coaching career also includes stops at Elmhurst College (2002-03) as an offensive coordinator as well as stints as an assistant coach at the prep level at St. Benedict High School (2001) and at his alma mater, Wheaton Warrenville South High School (2000).

“Tim is a bright, young coach who will bring a lot of energy to the program,” Cubit said. “I knew when he was a player he would develop into a great coach and I am excited to have him back.”

Moreland and Lester have joined forces on the field as both players and coaches and will continue that relationship at Western Michigan. One of the top tight ends to ever play at WMU, Moreland went on to play in the National Football League with the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns. He entered the coaching ranks at Elmhurst College in 2003 and later moved to Saint Joseph’s College as the special teams coordinator and offensive assistant later that year. The Pumas set school records in seven offensive categories under his tutelage in 2004.

“Jake was a great player with a real passion for the game,” Cubit said. “His strong work ethic and passion will aid in the development of our tight ends and our program as a whole.”

The 2005 campaign will mark Rock’s 14th at Western Michigan, with new duties allowing him to focus his efforts on the special teams units, a role he held while Cubit was also an assistant with WMU. Rock served as offensive coordinator for each of the past five seasons, leading the Broncos to numerous team and individual records. He served as the special teams coach for three seasons (1997-99), developing that aspect of the program into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference. The Broncos ranked first in the league in punt returns in 1999 and 32nd nationally. The kickoff return unit was the third-most productive in the MAC and Matt Steffen’s punting efforts placed WMU among the best in the conference, a trend that continued through last season.

“It’s a new role for Brian, but obviously one he is very familiar with,” Cubit said. “The third phase of the game is very important and we excelled in that area in the past when he was responsible for those units.”

Knox returns to the operations aspect of the program after serving as running backs coach in 2004. As the Director of Football Operations, his duties will include team travel, coordination of Bronco summer camps, serving as the team’s liaison to pro scouts and high school coaches and assisting in the day-to-day operations of the program. He served in that capacity for four seasons (2000-2003) after first arriving in Kalamazoo as a graduate assistant (1997-99). The 2005 campaign will mark Knox’s ninth year as a Bronco.

“Tim is a great organizer who has already played a valuable role in making the transition as smooth as possible,” Cubit said.