Tim Rose is in his 11th season as Ashland University’s defensive coordinator.

The veteran coach is regarded as one of the best defensive minds in the college game. Rose has experienced success at just about every level of college football, and is one of the most respected defensive coaches in the game. His tenure at AU has been marked by attacking defenses that have featured some of the top players in the nation.

The 2018 season saw the Eagles lead the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in scoring defense, total defense, passing defense and rushing defense. Nationally, Ashland was third-best in passing yards allowed per game, fourth-best in total defense and eighth-best in scoring defense.

In 2017, Ashland, using an entire two-deep roster throughout the entire campaign, was third in the GLIAC in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense, and second in interceptions. The 2016 season saw the Eagles lead the GLIAC in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense.

In 2015, Ashland's defense was second in the GLIAC in interceptions (18). In 2014, the Eagles' "D" led the GLIAC in points allowed per game and was second in the league in total defense. Ashland's defense also scored three touchdowns, second-best in the conference.

The 2012 season saw the AU defense develop into one of the top units in the country. Ashland was fifth in the nation in scoring defense, eighth in rush defense and ninth in total defense. Jamie Meder was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Brian Gamble was the conference's Defensive Back of the Year. AU shut out three opponents, including fifth-ranked Wayne State.

Meder repeated as the conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2013. He also was a first-team AFCA All-American.

In 2011, the AU defense featured two of the most dominant defensive linemen in the GLIAC - Meder and Jeris Pendleton. Both were first team all-conference linemen, and Pendleton was drafted in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pendleton is the first AU player to be selected in the NFL draft since 1972, and Meder has played all or part of three seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

In 2010, Ashland led the GLIAC in pass efficiency defense and interceptions and was third in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and sacks. Meder was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. He is the first AU player to receive that award.

Rose came to Ashland with a very rare resume. He coached Division I-A football for 29 years and spent 22 years as a defensive coordinator and/or inside linebackers coach. He spent seven seasons (1983-89) as the head coach at Miami (Ohio), and his ties run deep throughout the Buckeye State.

Rose came to Ashland from Toledo, where he was the defensive coordinator since 2005. In his first year with the Rockets, they improved from 98^th in the nation in total defense to 23^rd. In 2004, the Rockets yielded 424.3 ypg. In their first year under Rose, that figure dropped to 322.5 ypg.

A similar reduction occurred at Louisiana Tech in 2004. The year before Rose arrived, Tech was last in the country in total defense. Under Rose, Tech allowed 407.8 ypg., in total defense. The year before he arrived, that figure was 510.5 ypg.

Rose has certainly stood the test of time, and one reason for that is the attention to detail he talks about in building a defensive system. When he was the head coach at Miami, he directed the school to its lone conference championship in 25 years and its lone bowl appearances in 27 years (both came in 1986). In 1986, Miami upset LSU. Miami’s graduation rate under Rose was 92 percent.

During his career, Rose has also coached in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game. He has served as an assistant coach at Memphis State, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Boston College, East Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Louisiana Tech and Toledo. He also spent 15 years teaching and coaching on the high school level. Rose was a high school head coach for 11 years. He coached at three Ohio high schools – St. Mary’s (Lorain), Moeller (Cincinnati) and Elder (Cincinnati).

Rose and his wife, Joyce, have three grown children - Craig, Kristine and Kurt.

Recruiting Areas - Southern and Southwestern Ohio and Cincinnati