Tim Salem, who is in his eighth year at UCF in 2011, is in his third campaign as the Knights[apos] tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. Salem spent the previous five years as UCF[apos]s offensive coordinator.
With Salem leading the way in 2011, UCF once again boasted one of the top kickoff return units in the nation. The Knights jumped into the top five thanks in large part to true freshman Rannell Hall, who was the lone freshman from any school to grab a spot on the All-Conference USA First Team. In fact, Hall became the third Knight from 2008-11 to serve as the All-C-USA First Team kick returner (Joe Burnett in 2008, Quincy McDuffie in 2010). He was also the first freshman kick returner since Louisville[apos]s Broderick Clark in 2002 to be voted onto the first team.
Offensively, Adam Nissley put together his finest season as UCF[apos]s starting tight end in 2011. The strongest player on the roster that year had the fourth-highest reception total of any tight end in UCF history, finishing with 21 for 235 yards and a tocuhdown.
UCF[apos]s special teams units excelled in 2010, as the Knights recorded the top season in program history. UCF went 11-3, won seven games in C-USA play, claimed the league title and defeated Georgia in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The bowl victory was the first for the Knights, who finished the campaign ranked in the top 25 in both national polls.
The Knights concluded the year first nationally in kickoff returns and 12th in punt returns. McDuffie ranked second in kickoff returns, while Josh Robinson was eighth in punt returns. McDuffie garnered All-C-USA First Team honors for his special teams play, while Robinson was a second team pick.
Under Salem[apos]s guidance, the special teams also ranked third in the country on kick return defense, and was the No. 2 overall special teams unit behind only TCU.
Special teams units also shined in 2009. UCF was fifth nationally in punt return defense and 10th in kickoff return defense. UCF was also 13th in kickoff returns as three different Knights enjoyed a kickoff return of at least 72 yards on the year. Meanwhile, Adam Nissley came into his own as a tight end and became a solid blocker while also catching 10 passes for 159 yards.
He guided UCF to one of the best seasons in program history during the 2007 campaign. Behind a high-powered offense, the Knights won 10 contests, claimed the C-USA title for the first time and participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.Salem also spent time as the program[apos]s running backs coach. In that role in 2007, he helped Kevin Smith record one of the best seasons in college football history. The consensus All-America tailback rushed for 2,567 yards, good for second all-time on the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision single-season list. He also found the end zone a nation-leading 29 times on the ground.
Smith garnered C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year recognition and was a candidate for the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Awards. He was selected with the first pick of the third round in the 2008 National Football League Draft by Detroit.
Under Salem[apos]s direction, UCF set several school single-season records in 2007, including points (502), touchdowns (62) and rushing yards (3,287). The Knights averaged 35.86 points per game, which ranked 17th nationally. The 2007 campaign was Salem[apos]s first mentoring the running backs. The previous year, he coached UCF[apos]s wideouts and the Knights ranked 30th nationally in passing offense (233.75) and 34th in total offense at 373.17 yards per game. Wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker thrived in Salem[apos]s system, garnering All-C-USA First Team honors after averaging 7.5 receptions, good for third in the country. Sims-Walker was selected by Jacksonville in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Several Knights posted impressive campaigns in Salem[apos]s offense during the 2005 campaign, in which the Knights won the C-USA East Division championship and participated in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Smith was named the league[apos]s freshman of the year after rushing for 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns. Brandon Marshall and Sims-Walker combined for 2,050 yards and 20 touchdowns.
During the 2005 season, Salem also tutored UCF[apos]s tight ends. That year, Darcy Johnson had 36 receptions for 435 yards with two scores. In his first season in Orlando in 2004, Salem also coached the squad[apos]s quarterbacks.
Salem has a strong background in college coaching. Prior to working at UCF, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Michigan in 2003 where he mentored Lou Groza Award finalist Andrew Wellock.
From 1997-00, Salem served as the quarterbacks coach at Ohio State where he tutored Buckeye great Joe Germaine to the 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year honor. Germaine registered 10 300-yard passing games that season. Salem also worked for six seasons at Purdue as the quarterbacks coach, while also serving as the offensive coordinator for three years. The 1995 Boilermakers led the Big Ten in rushing.
Prior to Purdue, Salem spent two years at Colorado State (1989-90) as the running backs and special teams assistant coach and two seasons at Phoenix College (1987-88) as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and assistant athletics director. During his two seasons at CSU, Salem helped running backs Tony Alford (1989) and Brian Copeland (1990) each lead the WAC in rushing.
A 1985 graduate of Arizona State, Salem began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater for two seasons. Salem began his collegiate playing career at Minnesota where in 1980 he set the Big Ten record for consecutive pass completions.
Salem is a native of Minneapolis, Minn., and starred at the prep level at St. Thomas Academy. His father, Joe, was the head football coach at Minnesota from 1979-84. Salem and his wife Wendy have three children, sons Taylor and Landan and daughter Kylan.
Coaching Experience
UCF, 2004-Present
Tight Ends/Special Teams (2009-), Offensive Coordinator (2004-08), Running Backs (2007-08), Wide Receivers (2006), Tight Ends (2005), Quarterbacks(2004)
Eastern Michigan, 2003
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Ohio State, 1997-00
Quarterbacks
Purdue, 1991-96
Offensive Coordinator (1994-96), Quarterbacks (1991-93)
Colorado State, 1989-90
Running Backs and Special Teams(1990)
Phoenix College, 1987-88
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Arizona State, 1985-86
Graduate Assistant