Iowa football makes hire of Tim Lester official, beginning what Kirk Ferentz describes as ‘perfect fit’

IOWA CITY — Iowa football’s expected hire is now an official hire.

Iowa officially named Tim Lester as its next offensive coordinator in a news release on Wednesday in a move that had been anticipated since last weekend.

“When you have coached at every level of football like I have, you have a true appreciation for an opportunity like this at the University of Iowa,” Lester said in the news release. “I know the tradition and history of the Hawkeye program, and I am excited to get to work with the outstanding players and coaches.”

Lester joins the Hawkeyes after spending the 2023 season with the Green Bay Packers as a defensive analyst. Before that, he spent six seasons as the head coach at Western Michigan.

“His experience as both a head coach and a coordinator at several different levels of football gives him an excellent perspective,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said in the release. “I believe his expertise and personality make him a perfect fit for this position.”

His offenses at Western Michigan were in the top 40 nationally in points per game in all but one season. The exception was 2022, when the Broncos averaged 19 points per game before Lester’s firing.

Lester also was offensive coordinator at Syracuse. The Orange was ranked near the bottom of the ACC in both points per game and yards per game in his two seasons leading the offense.

He also has been either an offensive coordinator or head coach at the high school and lower-division college levels at varying points in his two-plus-decade coaching career.

Lester’s contract, which The Gazette obtained via public records request, goes through June 2026. His base salary starts at $1.1 million per year and will increase to $1.3 million in February 2025.

It is a considerable increase from predecessor Brian Ferentz’s 2023 base salary of $850,000.

Lester’s salary is the second-highest among Iowa’s assistant coaches, following defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s $1.9 million salary. Seth Wallace, who was promoted to assistant head coach earlier this year, is not far behind Lester with a $1 million salary.

The new offensive coordinator is “immediately responsible to the Head Football Coach,” according to the contract. His predecessor Brian Ferentz reported to the athletics director in a workaround of university nepotism policies.

Iowa still has one staff vacancy following wide receivers coach Kelton Copeland’s departure.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com