Urbana University

579 College Way

Urbana, OH 43078-2091

Blue Knights

Tim Place steps ups as head coach of the Blue Knight football program, after four successful years as Urbana University’s defensive coordinator. Place, of Endwell, New York, embarks on his first ever collegiate head coaching post with a program he already knows inside and out. Place was assistant head coach for two seasons with the Blue Knights, making it a seamless transition to the top spot. Coach Place’s program is based on the two most important accomplishments for his student athletes: receiving a college diploma and winning a conference championship. Every decision he and his staff makes, is with these two goals in mind. He believes the student-athlete shall put forth optimal effort regarding his education, put forth great effort in all phases of the football program, and most importantly, be great people. Coach Place is loyal to his players and staff. He coaches with passion and demands every member of the team understand their role and responsibility and that they demand the best of themselves. Place, who came to Urbana in 2002, was the Mid-States Football Association’s choice for Assistant Coach of the Year in 2004. With Place as the Blue Knights’ assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator, Urbana led the MSFA and was second in the NAIA in total sacks during the 2004 campaign. Last season Place’s defense led the MSFA in run defense, allowing just 91.6 rushing yards a game, good enough for second in the nation. The “d” also averaged 3.1 sacks a game, the eighth best total in the nation. Place literally transformed Urbana’s defense into one of the top units in the MSFA and in the NAIA. The Blue Knights went from worst to first in turnover margin in the MSFA the year after Place became the defensive coordinator. In addition to being the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator, Place proved invaluable as the Blue Knights’ recruiting coordinator and academic advisor. Under his tutelage the team raised its G.P.A. by nearly an entire point. He has also been integral in some of the best recruiting classes in Urbana University football history. He coached Urbana University All-American (Honorable Mention in 2002 and 1st Team in 2003) Charles Boyd, who broke nearly every Blue Knight tackle record in 2003. Coach Place has had coaching stints with Christian Brothers Academy in New York (‘90-91) as an assistant; Greene Central High School (N.Y.) from 1992-95 as head coach; and Hartwick College of New York as outside linebackers coach. Coach Place also was an assistant coach at Eureka College in Illinois from 1997-98. There he coached the D-III all-time leading receiver Kurt Barth. He was linebackers and defensive line coach at Western Carolina University in North Carolina from 1999-2000 where he worked with the Carolina Panthers’ Brad Hoover coached Nick McNeil, who is currently with the New York Giants. Before coming to Urbana, Coach Place was head coach at Ravenna High School in Ravenna, Ohio where he coached Damien Fortson to the Big 33 Game. Coach Place was a two-year letterman for Maine-Endwell Senior High School. He graduated from Washington & Lee University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with honors. At Washington & Lee, Coach Place was a two-year letterman at linebacker. Coach Place and his wife Jennifer have a son Nathaniel (5) and daughter Claire (3).